Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Some men come among us and will not work. They expect others to support them.
Paul said ... For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. II Thess. 3
When the man is able bodied, we do not give him food or money. To do so would be to go in a way opposite to this way set forth by Paul as a commandment.
Also from the time of the transgression, God ordained that the man would work.
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Gen. 3
Some of you have able bodied men in your households. If they will not work, neither should they eat. Let them get an honest job and work for their own bread.
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. II Thess. 3
I came out of a business one day and a man approached me and said, "Lady, will you give me $2 for gasoline?" I looked him over and saw he was able bodied and I replied, "No, I will not. Go get a job and pay for your own gasoline."
A few years ago, one of my male relatives came to me asking for money. He had a long standing reputation of not working, of not supporting his family, and he was calling himself a deacon in a Baptist Church. In his case, I showed him my check book and the balance in my account and told him he could have that but he became ashamed and said, "I didn't want to ask you but my wife had me do it." He did not take the money. They ended up divorcing a few months later. So far as I know, he continues not to work and hangs around his Baptist Church. This is such a shame.
A man here in Lubbock sits beside an underpass with a cardboard sign begging for money. It can be pretty hot here during some months. I always thought it was such a strange thing to sit on the hot concrete and beg for money when he could be working for money. He might not get a job as president of a bank, but I suspect he could mow lawns or wash windows. But he begged instead.
And I finally had to remove my email address from these writings because I was overwhelmed with "pastors" who were begging me for money. This is opposite to the way of God for the ministry or the church. There is no example in Bible of a minister asking people to give money for the work of God. There are "tithes" and "offerings" but God puts it into the elects hearts to give. These begging pastors play on the emotions of other humans with their skillful words. This is not of God. Jesus said ... Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Mt. 23
(Providing daily encouragement for the body of Christ by the Spirit of God to help the church in the end times.)
Friday, July 6, 2012
God uses foolishness of preaching
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Titus
1 ...Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according
to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is
after godliness; 2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie,
promised before the world began; 3But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
While God can and does reach each of
the elect directly ... putting HIS laws into hearts and minds ... And we
do not need for any to teach us ... I Jn. 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Yet through the foolishness of preaching God chooses to "manifest" HIS word ... make HIS word clear to the elect...
I believe as we, who are called of God, "preach" that
which we have, God honors it by opening the eyes and ears of the elect
so they may see clearly what we say.
But to the non-elect, they will not understand.
Nevertheless for the elect's sake
and knowing this plan of God we give ourselves to the office to which we
are called and "dance" before the Lord with all our might as did David, speaking fully that which is entrusted to us so all the elect can benefit as God wills.
Deceived by failing to turn to God
Pam Padgett ... teacher
After the children of Israel destroyed Jericho and Ai, the Hivites (inhabitants of Gibeon) were fearful of them. They had heard that God had commanded Moses to give the children of Israel the land and had commanded that they destroy all the inhabitants of the land.
Joshua 9:24 And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
So they devised a way to trap the Israelites into being in league with them rather than destroying them. They lied, saying they were from a far away land, and even had old wine, bread, sacks, clothes, and shoes to make this look to be the case.
Joshua 9:3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, 4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; 5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. 6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
At first, Joshua and the men of Israel were wary of what these men said. But the men spoke of having heard of the things God had done against the enemies of the Israelites. And they showed the old items (bread, wine, etc.), saying they were new at the beginning of their journey, offering these as evidence that their journey had been long.
Joshua 9:7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you? 8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye? 9 And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth. 11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us. 12 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy: 13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
The men of Israel, seeing and hearing what the Hivites presented, believed what they were told ... without first turning to God .... and they were deceived.
Joshua 9:14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. 15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
As I read this account I was reminded of ... Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7)
God knows the truth about each person and each matter we come across. But we can become blinded by our own understanding and our own wisdom, and fail to turn to God.
We see this example of Joshua and the men of Israel being deceived by the well thought-out trap the Hivites devised. How much more are we in danger of being deceived as deception increases more and more as the day of the Lord approaches. We need to approach each matter in a spiritual way, turning to God and seeking His truth on the matter.
2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, 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.
After the children of Israel destroyed Jericho and Ai, the Hivites (inhabitants of Gibeon) were fearful of them. They had heard that God had commanded Moses to give the children of Israel the land and had commanded that they destroy all the inhabitants of the land.
Joshua 9:24 And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
So they devised a way to trap the Israelites into being in league with them rather than destroying them. They lied, saying they were from a far away land, and even had old wine, bread, sacks, clothes, and shoes to make this look to be the case.
Joshua 9:3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, 4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; 5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. 6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
At first, Joshua and the men of Israel were wary of what these men said. But the men spoke of having heard of the things God had done against the enemies of the Israelites. And they showed the old items (bread, wine, etc.), saying they were new at the beginning of their journey, offering these as evidence that their journey had been long.
Joshua 9:7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you? 8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye? 9 And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth. 11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us. 12 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy: 13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
The men of Israel, seeing and hearing what the Hivites presented, believed what they were told ... without first turning to God .... and they were deceived.
Joshua 9:14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. 15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
As I read this account I was reminded of ... Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7)
God knows the truth about each person and each matter we come across. But we can become blinded by our own understanding and our own wisdom, and fail to turn to God.
We see this example of Joshua and the men of Israel being deceived by the well thought-out trap the Hivites devised. How much more are we in danger of being deceived as deception increases more and more as the day of the Lord approaches. We need to approach each matter in a spiritual way, turning to God and seeking His truth on the matter.
2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, 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.
Choosing eternal damnation
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed ... I Samuel 12:25
The word "consumed" is very revealing.
Consumed ... means ... To have all your attention and energy ... To be burned up with your desire ...
I have seen ministers consumed by personal ambition. I have seen them choose eternal damnation in order to achieve world wide fame in ministry. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mt. 16:26 ...Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Mt. 23
I have seen individuals who call themselves Christians give themselves over to various desires only to be able to think of nothing but that personal desire, again choosing hell rather than God.
It is amazing but all along the way, the past 34 years, God has given me various instructions and when I have kept those instructions I have lost popularity among the masses in church circles. God has saved me from "great achievement" in ministry circles. I continually thank God for this.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, Phil. 2
But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed ... I Samuel 12:25
The word "consumed" is very revealing.
Consumed ... means ... To have all your attention and energy ... To be burned up with your desire ...
I have seen ministers consumed by personal ambition. I have seen them choose eternal damnation in order to achieve world wide fame in ministry. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mt. 16:26 ...Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Mt. 23
I have seen individuals who call themselves Christians give themselves over to various desires only to be able to think of nothing but that personal desire, again choosing hell rather than God.
It is amazing but all along the way, the past 34 years, God has given me various instructions and when I have kept those instructions I have lost popularity among the masses in church circles. God has saved me from "great achievement" in ministry circles. I continually thank God for this.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, Phil. 2
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Power of meditating in scripture
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
When we meditate in the Word of God, we end up having the power needed to do the word of God. And when we do this, all that we do will prosper (turn out well). Psa. 1
Here are three examples of meditating in the word of God:
Meditation example #1:
I Thess. 4 ... And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
We who belong to God are to walk honestly ...
Some of the meanings of the word "honest" are:
- truthful
- fair
- honorable
- in a way which is a respectful way
- a way of esteem
- as a person who brings credit to profession
- adherence to that which is right
Meditation example #2:
Psa. 97:10 ... Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
Wicked means One who causes or is likely to cause harm, distress, trouble
I thought of numerous people God has removed from me. These are people who grieved my soul, people who said things which troubled me without cause. I thanked God for delivering me from them.
Meditation example #3:
I Cor. 15:58 ... be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
First ... I must establish if that which I am doing is a labor of God. Did God tell me to do this. Then if I am sure what I am doing is of God, I can use the above scripture to strengthen me and help me continue in the work.
unmovable:
- not affected by emotion or excitement
- not affected by "feeling"
We cannot allow the way we feel to change the plan. Feeling is an emotion of the flesh. We cannot allow ourselves to be ruled by our flesh.
Paul said ...But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. I Cor. 9:27
So after we establish that the way is the way God wants us to go, we strengthen ourselves to continue going in that work by focusing on the portions of the Word of God brought to our mind by the Holy Spirit. We keep those things in front of us day and night so we will not turn aside from the way.
We must not be led by emotion or feelings.
The labor we do under the instruction of God will not be in vain. The works of our flesh will be vain, fruitless, foolish, wasteful.
labor: effort: endure pain, anguish, suffering
not in vain: It will produce a result. It will be fruitful. It will do that which God intends it to do. Sometimes it will be used to bring condemnation to those who will not do the word of God. Sometimes it will bring salvation and turn them if God wills. But it will produce an effect one way or another.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55
Several years ago, I visited a Sunday school class at a church and the pastor read the following: By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Heb. 11
The the pastor asked, "Did Noah condemn the world."
I spoke: "Yes ... he did condemn the world ... For in the day of judgment God will use Noah as an example and God will say, "Noah did what I told him ..." and this will be enough to condemn the world.
We who do the scriptures will end up being condemnation for those who set aside scripture for God will say to the condemned, "You have no excuse for she did the scripture." So we end up condemning the others by our obedience to the word of God.
The people in the church class were shocked and the pastor indicated to me that he would rather I not come back to their church again. But I know what I spoke was truth from the Spirit of God. This was apparent a church group that had another doctrine.
When we meditate in the Word of God, we end up having the power needed to do the word of God. And when we do this, all that we do will prosper (turn out well). Psa. 1
Here are three examples of meditating in the word of God:
Meditation example #1:
I Thess. 4 ... And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
We who belong to God are to walk honestly ...
Some of the meanings of the word "honest" are:
- truthful
- fair
- honorable
- in a way which is a respectful way
- a way of esteem
- as a person who brings credit to profession
- adherence to that which is right
Meditation example #2:
Psa. 97:10 ... Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
Wicked means One who causes or is likely to cause harm, distress, trouble
I thought of numerous people God has removed from me. These are people who grieved my soul, people who said things which troubled me without cause. I thanked God for delivering me from them.
Meditation example #3:
I Cor. 15:58 ... be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
First ... I must establish if that which I am doing is a labor of God. Did God tell me to do this. Then if I am sure what I am doing is of God, I can use the above scripture to strengthen me and help me continue in the work.
unmovable:
- not affected by emotion or excitement
- not affected by "feeling"
We cannot allow the way we feel to change the plan. Feeling is an emotion of the flesh. We cannot allow ourselves to be ruled by our flesh.
Paul said ...But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. I Cor. 9:27
So after we establish that the way is the way God wants us to go, we strengthen ourselves to continue going in that work by focusing on the portions of the Word of God brought to our mind by the Holy Spirit. We keep those things in front of us day and night so we will not turn aside from the way.
We must not be led by emotion or feelings.
The labor we do under the instruction of God will not be in vain. The works of our flesh will be vain, fruitless, foolish, wasteful.
labor: effort: endure pain, anguish, suffering
not in vain: It will produce a result. It will be fruitful. It will do that which God intends it to do. Sometimes it will be used to bring condemnation to those who will not do the word of God. Sometimes it will bring salvation and turn them if God wills. But it will produce an effect one way or another.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55
Several years ago, I visited a Sunday school class at a church and the pastor read the following: By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Heb. 11
The the pastor asked, "Did Noah condemn the world."
I spoke: "Yes ... he did condemn the world ... For in the day of judgment God will use Noah as an example and God will say, "Noah did what I told him ..." and this will be enough to condemn the world.
We who do the scriptures will end up being condemnation for those who set aside scripture for God will say to the condemned, "You have no excuse for she did the scripture." So we end up condemning the others by our obedience to the word of God.
The people in the church class were shocked and the pastor indicated to me that he would rather I not come back to their church again. But I know what I spoke was truth from the Spirit of God. This was apparent a church group that had another doctrine.
Tongue boasts great things
Pam Padgett ... teacher
Psalm 12:3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: 4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
Man often tries to show that he is better or more powerful (in some way) than others by what he says. Debates, speeches, arguments, boastful talk, and sadly, even prayers spoken in public to be heard by others, are used to exalt the speaker.
Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
But all glory, honor, and power belongs to God. HE alone is worthy to be praised. HIS word is real and true, having great power, and will never fail.
God spoke, and the world was created. The heavens and the earth will continue, being held in place by HIS word, until the end of the world ... 2 Peter 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
And we have been changed, and continue to be changed, by the Word of God as the Holy Spirit works in us showing us how to apply the Word we've been given in our lives, conforming us to the image of Christ.
It is not the word of man that has power, but the Word of God. Regardless of what man may speak to try to prevail in the situation, they will not prevail against God and His Word.
It is the Word of God we should uphold when we speak, not our own ideas or those of others.
As I thought about these things, I was reminded that we speak what is in our hearts. If we are trying to gain glory for ourselves among men, we will speak proud, boastful things. But if we are diligent to keep our hearts pure and humbly seek only to be pleasing to God, what is good in the sight of God will come out of our mouths.
Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
And Jesus told us the following about praying to our heavenly Father in secret, rather than to be seen of men ...
Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalm 12:3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: 4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
Man often tries to show that he is better or more powerful (in some way) than others by what he says. Debates, speeches, arguments, boastful talk, and sadly, even prayers spoken in public to be heard by others, are used to exalt the speaker.
Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
But all glory, honor, and power belongs to God. HE alone is worthy to be praised. HIS word is real and true, having great power, and will never fail.
God spoke, and the world was created. The heavens and the earth will continue, being held in place by HIS word, until the end of the world ... 2 Peter 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
And we have been changed, and continue to be changed, by the Word of God as the Holy Spirit works in us showing us how to apply the Word we've been given in our lives, conforming us to the image of Christ.
It is not the word of man that has power, but the Word of God. Regardless of what man may speak to try to prevail in the situation, they will not prevail against God and His Word.
It is the Word of God we should uphold when we speak, not our own ideas or those of others.
As I thought about these things, I was reminded that we speak what is in our hearts. If we are trying to gain glory for ourselves among men, we will speak proud, boastful things. But if we are diligent to keep our hearts pure and humbly seek only to be pleasing to God, what is good in the sight of God will come out of our mouths.
Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
And Jesus told us the following about praying to our heavenly Father in secret, rather than to be seen of men ...
Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Consider what God has done for you
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. I Samuel 12:24
Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. I Samuel 12:24
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Getting joy back
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
If joy has left, to get it back, think of those things God has done in the past for you. Think on God, not on the circumstances.
If joy has left, to get it back, think of those things God has done in the past for you. Think on God, not on the circumstances.
Is a great revival coming?
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
From time to time, I will hear someone speak of a great revival which is to come.
I have no idea where they are getting that concept.
If they are thinking of the prophecy of Joel where God pours out his Spirit on all flesh, that prophecy was fulfilled at Pentecost and is reported in Acts 2 ...And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
...Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 21And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The apostle Paul said the following would happen in the last days ...
evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. II Tim. 2
Paul said antichrist would come through the churches ...
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first (churches will fall away from scripture and set up a doctrine that pleases man), and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. II Thess. 2
Paul said this concerning people in the churches ...
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. II Tim. 3
And Jesus said it would get so bad that "if possible" even the elect would be deceived ...
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Mt. 24
It is all going to come through the churches ... and it is doing that right now.
From time to time, I will hear someone speak of a great revival which is to come.
I have no idea where they are getting that concept.
If they are thinking of the prophecy of Joel where God pours out his Spirit on all flesh, that prophecy was fulfilled at Pentecost and is reported in Acts 2 ...And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
...Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 21And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The apostle Paul said the following would happen in the last days ...
evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. II Tim. 2
Paul said antichrist would come through the churches ...
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first (churches will fall away from scripture and set up a doctrine that pleases man), and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. II Thess. 2
Paul said this concerning people in the churches ...
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. II Tim. 3
And Jesus said it would get so bad that "if possible" even the elect would be deceived ...
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Mt. 24
It is all going to come through the churches ... and it is doing that right now.
Strong delusion
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. II Thess. 2
Here is great danger:
If we shy away from truth in order to hold on to something else or someone else, God could turn us over to a strong delusion and let us believe a lie.
Nothing can be allowed to be more important to us than truth. Truth is from God. To not want to see truth would be to reject God.
There are many churches today and many who attend those churches today who do not want to see certain truths. For example: These churches do not want to see truth on subject of divorce and remarriage. Jesus said, But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. Mt. 5:32
3 forms of adultery:
- The man who divorces a "faithful" wife causes her to commit adultery if she remarries
- The "faithful" wife commits adultery if she remarries
- The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery
The majority of churches in United States have omitted this teaching from their doctrine and even uphold marriages between divorced people.
This is a strong example of loving something more than loving the truth. It is antichrist ... opposite to Christ.
There are people who are hung up on various desires and cling to their desire above the scripture. They take pleasure in unrighteousness.
We read that because of this, God will send them strong delusion. (II Thess. 2:11)
When a delusion is from God, how can it be broken up? I don't think it can be stopped when it is sent by God.
To follow God, you must love the Word of God so much that you are willing to give up everything else.
We have so many examples in the Bible of this concept.
the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Mt. 13
Jesus said ...Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Mt. 10
Jesus, THE WORD, must be more important to us than anyone or anything else on this earth. And to the last breath we have on this earth, we must continue to cling to the word above all people and above all things.
Few will find the way of life because the price is so great.
Jesus explained:
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Mt. 7
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. II Thess. 2
Here is great danger:
If we shy away from truth in order to hold on to something else or someone else, God could turn us over to a strong delusion and let us believe a lie.
Nothing can be allowed to be more important to us than truth. Truth is from God. To not want to see truth would be to reject God.
There are many churches today and many who attend those churches today who do not want to see certain truths. For example: These churches do not want to see truth on subject of divorce and remarriage. Jesus said, But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. Mt. 5:32
3 forms of adultery:
- The man who divorces a "faithful" wife causes her to commit adultery if she remarries
- The "faithful" wife commits adultery if she remarries
- The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery
The majority of churches in United States have omitted this teaching from their doctrine and even uphold marriages between divorced people.
This is a strong example of loving something more than loving the truth. It is antichrist ... opposite to Christ.
There are people who are hung up on various desires and cling to their desire above the scripture. They take pleasure in unrighteousness.
We read that because of this, God will send them strong delusion. (II Thess. 2:11)
When a delusion is from God, how can it be broken up? I don't think it can be stopped when it is sent by God.
To follow God, you must love the Word of God so much that you are willing to give up everything else.
We have so many examples in the Bible of this concept.
the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Mt. 13
Jesus said ...Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Mt. 10
Jesus, THE WORD, must be more important to us than anyone or anything else on this earth. And to the last breath we have on this earth, we must continue to cling to the word above all people and above all things.
Few will find the way of life because the price is so great.
Jesus explained:
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Mt. 7
Saved for heaven ... but is there penalty on earth for wrong doing?
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
David was a "man after God's own heart", desiring to do the will of God on this earth. But David looked upon a woman who was the wife of another man and David had sex with her and she became pregnant. Then David ordered her husband to be put on the front lines of battle and David ordered that his army pull back to allow this husband to be killed and he was killed.
God sent a prophet to David after this.
And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 2The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: 3But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. 4And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: 6And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 11Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD.
And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 14Howbeit, 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.
II Sam. 12
God put away David's sins ... But God exacted a penalty upon David on this present earth.
Do we have an example of such in New Testament.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Gal. 6
Here is an interesting example of a penalty on earth for wrong doing ... In this case it involved wrong doing by one king (Saul) but the penalty was on the people and another king (David) after Saul's death.
Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. 2And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.) 3Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD? II Sam. 21
Certainly we are saved to eternal life by the blood of Jesus. But if we have wronged someone on this earth, we might need to go to that person and try to correct our wrong doing.
After I was born again, I did this several times ... going to people I had wronged. Asking those people to forgive me. Confessing my wrong doing to those people. Some received me. In each case, I felt I was led by God to do this. We must always be led by God.
There is a "vengence" of God against wrong doing. There is a justice of God where wrong doing is concerned. If we do wrong, before or after we are born again, we might find we are led to try to right the wrong even though we are justified in the sight of God by the blood of Jesus. Do things honest in the sight of all men. (Romans 12:17)
David was a "man after God's own heart", desiring to do the will of God on this earth. But David looked upon a woman who was the wife of another man and David had sex with her and she became pregnant. Then David ordered her husband to be put on the front lines of battle and David ordered that his army pull back to allow this husband to be killed and he was killed.
God sent a prophet to David after this.
And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 2The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: 3But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. 4And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: 6And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 11Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD.
And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 14Howbeit, 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.
II Sam. 12
God put away David's sins ... But God exacted a penalty upon David on this present earth.
Do we have an example of such in New Testament.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Gal. 6
Here is an interesting example of a penalty on earth for wrong doing ... In this case it involved wrong doing by one king (Saul) but the penalty was on the people and another king (David) after Saul's death.
Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. 2And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.) 3Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD? II Sam. 21
Certainly we are saved to eternal life by the blood of Jesus. But if we have wronged someone on this earth, we might need to go to that person and try to correct our wrong doing.
After I was born again, I did this several times ... going to people I had wronged. Asking those people to forgive me. Confessing my wrong doing to those people. Some received me. In each case, I felt I was led by God to do this. We must always be led by God.
There is a "vengence" of God against wrong doing. There is a justice of God where wrong doing is concerned. If we do wrong, before or after we are born again, we might find we are led to try to right the wrong even though we are justified in the sight of God by the blood of Jesus. Do things honest in the sight of all men. (Romans 12:17)
Fulfilling instruction from God
Pam Padgett ... teacher
When the children of Israel went up to fight Jericho, they were given the following instruction ...
Joshua 6:17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.
But one of the men did not obey this instruction. Instead, he took and hid some of the spoils. The anger of God was kindled against Israel because of this, and when they went up against Ai, they could not take the city but, instead, retreated. When Joshua turned to God, God told him the following ...
Joshua 7:11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
At God's direction, Joshua called all the congregation together, and God identified that Achan was the transgressor. Achan then admitted what he had done ...
Joshua 7:20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: 21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
Achan, his family, and all that he had were destroyed, as God had directed ...
Joshua 7:24 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. 25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. 26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
While thinking about what happened here, two things stood out to me. First of all, how critical it is that we obey God, not counting His Word as trivial, but seriously and prayerfully considering it and applying it to our lives, as led by the Holy Spirit.
The second thing that stood out to me is that nothing is hidden from God. We may be able to hide from man, but we cannot hide from God. Jesus told us the following ...
Luke 12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
When the children of Israel went up to fight Jericho, they were given the following instruction ...
Joshua 6:17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.
But one of the men did not obey this instruction. Instead, he took and hid some of the spoils. The anger of God was kindled against Israel because of this, and when they went up against Ai, they could not take the city but, instead, retreated. When Joshua turned to God, God told him the following ...
Joshua 7:11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
At God's direction, Joshua called all the congregation together, and God identified that Achan was the transgressor. Achan then admitted what he had done ...
Joshua 7:20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: 21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
Achan, his family, and all that he had were destroyed, as God had directed ...
Joshua 7:24 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. 25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. 26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
While thinking about what happened here, two things stood out to me. First of all, how critical it is that we obey God, not counting His Word as trivial, but seriously and prayerfully considering it and applying it to our lives, as led by the Holy Spirit.
The second thing that stood out to me is that nothing is hidden from God. We may be able to hide from man, but we cannot hide from God. Jesus told us the following ...
Luke 12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
The Lord's Supper
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Jesus said ... I am that bread of life. 49Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. Jn. 6
Jesus, THE WORD, is the bread that came down from heaven.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. Jn. 1
... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, Jn. 1:14
How do we eat His flesh and drink His blood that we may have life?
When we eat and drink the Word given by God, that Word dwells in us and we have life and light of God. We go in the way of the Word given us rather than going in the way of the world or in the way of other people.
We eat His flesh and drink His blood when we take in His Word and do His Word in the various issues pertaining to this life.
We judge ourselves by His Word, making changes to our lives as needed.
We are conformed to the image of Christ each time to do that word given to us by the Spirit of God. It is not a one time being born again but rather we are "born again" each time we do the Word of God, making changes according to the Word of God.
And all things are measured and examined by the Word of God.
Thus eating His flesh and drinking His blood has to do with taking the Word of God into ourselves. This is the Lord's supper... eating and drinking the Word of God.
But be warned also ...he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. I Cor. 11
3But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And 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. 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. II Tim. 3
The Lord's supper is not the eating of crackers nor drinking of grape juice.
The Lord's supper is the eating and drinking of the Word of God.
========================================================================
Jesus said ... I am that bread of life. 49Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. Jn. 6
Jesus, THE WORD, is the bread that came down from heaven.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. Jn. 1
... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, Jn. 1:14
How do we eat His flesh and drink His blood that we may have life?
When we eat and drink the Word given by God, that Word dwells in us and we have life and light of God. We go in the way of the Word given us rather than going in the way of the world or in the way of other people.
We eat His flesh and drink His blood when we take in His Word and do His Word in the various issues pertaining to this life.
We judge ourselves by His Word, making changes to our lives as needed.
We are conformed to the image of Christ each time to do that word given to us by the Spirit of God. It is not a one time being born again but rather we are "born again" each time we do the Word of God, making changes according to the Word of God.
And all things are measured and examined by the Word of God.
Thus eating His flesh and drinking His blood has to do with taking the Word of God into ourselves. This is the Lord's supper... eating and drinking the Word of God.
But be warned also ...he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. I Cor. 11
3But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And 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. 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. II Tim. 3
The Lord's supper is not the eating of crackers nor drinking of grape juice.
The Lord's supper is the eating and drinking of the Word of God.
========================================================================
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Language of God
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob. 5This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not. Psa. 81
When you follow God and read the Bible and allow the scriptures to rule over you by faith, the way is so different from the way of man. The way of most other people is like another language to us.
For example: I was born again in 1975 and at that time I owned a business in Dallas, Texas. I owed about $9000 at that time on merchandise. I felt strongly I should get out of debt and I began working toward getting out of debt. In a short time, I was out of debt by cutting back on my spending and by applying profits from sale of merchandise toward the debt.
A friend who worked for an airline told me the way I was running my business was exactly opposite to the way corporations operate. (She worked for Braniff Airlines.) She said they were taught to use other people's money to make more money and never use your own personal money. In a few years, Braniff went bankrupt and closed.
God has taught me a completely different way of life from the way most people live today. Most people take out mortgages and buy a house thinking it is better to do this than throw away money on rent. Makes sense. But this is not the way God led me. I lived in a simple apartment. Then when I moved to another city in 1985, to help my mother, I built apartments for us with the money I had saved and with the money she had. There was no mortgage. We just did what we could pay for. At that time I looked at trailer houses, thinking that is what I would need to buy. I had forgotten that my dad had left a little money to us. I had never used any of that money and my mother had put it into a bank savings account so it was there to use. That allowed us to build the apartments. But I did not take out a loan from a bank.
It is such a different way from the way the world teaches. But this is the way I have been taught by God. Do what you can pay for. If you can't pay for it, just don't do it.
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. 7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9But 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. 10For 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. 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I Tim. 6
==============================
For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob. 5This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not. Psa. 81
When you follow God and read the Bible and allow the scriptures to rule over you by faith, the way is so different from the way of man. The way of most other people is like another language to us.
For example: I was born again in 1975 and at that time I owned a business in Dallas, Texas. I owed about $9000 at that time on merchandise. I felt strongly I should get out of debt and I began working toward getting out of debt. In a short time, I was out of debt by cutting back on my spending and by applying profits from sale of merchandise toward the debt.
A friend who worked for an airline told me the way I was running my business was exactly opposite to the way corporations operate. (She worked for Braniff Airlines.) She said they were taught to use other people's money to make more money and never use your own personal money. In a few years, Braniff went bankrupt and closed.
God has taught me a completely different way of life from the way most people live today. Most people take out mortgages and buy a house thinking it is better to do this than throw away money on rent. Makes sense. But this is not the way God led me. I lived in a simple apartment. Then when I moved to another city in 1985, to help my mother, I built apartments for us with the money I had saved and with the money she had. There was no mortgage. We just did what we could pay for. At that time I looked at trailer houses, thinking that is what I would need to buy. I had forgotten that my dad had left a little money to us. I had never used any of that money and my mother had put it into a bank savings account so it was there to use. That allowed us to build the apartments. But I did not take out a loan from a bank.
It is such a different way from the way the world teaches. But this is the way I have been taught by God. Do what you can pay for. If you can't pay for it, just don't do it.
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. 7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9But 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. 10For 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. 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I Tim. 6
==============================
When destruction comes
Pam Padgett ... teacher
A fire broke out just west of Colorado Springs recently. Although
I live several miles from the fire, I could see a huge column of smoke,
like a large cylinder going up into the sky, from my home just a few
hours after the fire began. I'm sure this was very frightening for
those who live near the fire, and that it would be for me as well. But
as I saw the smoke column from this distance, I marveled in God. As
I saw pictures of the massive fire burning thousands of acres
and heard that the wind caused this fire to move in three
different directions at the same time, I've had the same reaction ...
these things cause me to think of, and stand in awe of, God.
One evening I heard one of the news women comment about the power we are
witnessing in this fire. One of the news men started explaining this
away, but she again said something like "But there is so much power".
She may not understand that she is seeing the power of God, but she
seemed to realize that the power we are seeing can't be easily explained
with man's words. The following day I was reminded of the following ...
Psalm 148:7 Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: 8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word: 9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
10 Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: 11 Kings
of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: 12
Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: 13 Let them praise
the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is
above the earth and heaven.
The fire, the wind, the trees as they burn ... all are praising God as
they do what God created them to do. God created fire to heat and to
burn things it comes in contact with. The trees burn when the fire
comes to them. The wind drives and fans the fire. All things are
working according to how God ordained. Even the mountain and hills,
which make it so difficult for man to try to stop the fire, fulfill His
purpose.
A few days after the start of the
fire it expanded very rapidly as strong winds drove the fire to a residential
area where hundreds of homes were destroyed.
Watching how quickly the fire moved and consumed homes, I was very shaken and asked God to
help stabilize me. I was again reminded
that the fire and wind fulfill God’s will…. Psalm 148:7 Praise the LORD from
the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: 8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour;
stormy wind fulfilling his word:
It was very calming to be reminded
that God is in control of all of this. To man it looked like the fire was
completely out of control ... and it was out of the control of man ... but
it was always under the control of God.
As I was thanking God for helping
me when I was so shaken, I recalled Like as a father pitieth his
children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame;
he remembereth that we are dust. (Psalm
103:13)
God knows how
easily shaken we can become, and He has pity on those who fear Him.
Because we fear Him, we turn to Him, and He has compassion on us and helps us,
knowing exactly what we need to be helped.
Also during this time I have heard people lamenting the "beauty" that is
burning. I was reminded that God created all things, including the
trees that make this area so pretty. Yet He has chosen for these to
burn. Man tends to hold onto "nature" as though it is
sacred ... worshiping the created rather than the Creator. But it is
God who is worthy to be praised.
When Job lost so many things … his oxen,
asses, sheep, camels, servants, sons and daughters … he worshipped God.
Job 1: 20
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon
the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's
womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath
taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 22 In all this Job sinned not,
nor charged God foolishly.
And we know in the day of the Lord, all of this will burn ...
2 Peter 3:10 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.
We are told to set our affection, not on things of the earth, but on
things above, seeking the will of God and to please Him as we walk on
this earth.
Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
(Comments by Joan Boney: Recently we had hail storms two nights in a row. The hail was probably golf ball size. It can do a lot of damage to the roof. But all I could think of is this: Hail is from God. And in spite of the damage it could do, I rejoiced.)
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