Instruction in Righteousness: Acts 13

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

² As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

³ And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

⁴ So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

⁵ And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

⁶ And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:  ⁷ Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

⁸ But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

⁹ Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.¹⁰ And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

¹¹ And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. 

And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

¹² Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.


***

¹³ Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

¹⁴ But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

¹⁵ And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

¹⁶ Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

¹⁷ The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought He them out of it.

¹⁸ And about the time of forty years suffered He their manners in the wilderness.

¹⁹ And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, He divided their land to them by lot.

²⁰ And after that He gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

²¹ And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

²² And when He had removed him, He raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also He gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after Mine own heart, which shall fulfil all My will.

²³ Of this man's seed hath God according to His promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

²⁴ When John had first preached before His coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

²⁵ And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not HE. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of His feet I am not worthy to loose.

²⁶ Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

²⁷ For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew Him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning Him.

²⁸ And though they found no cause of death in Him, yet desired they Pilate that HE should be slain.

²⁹ And when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree, and laid Him in a sepulchre.

³⁰ But God raised Him from the dead:

³¹ And HE was seen many days of them which came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses unto the people.

³² And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,
³³ God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that HE hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee.

³⁴ And as concerning that HE raised Him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, HE said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

³⁵ Wherefore HE saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.

³⁶ For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

(David's flesh was destroyed.)

³⁷ But HE, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

³⁸ Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through This man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

³⁹ And by HIM all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

⁴⁰ Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;
⁴¹ Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

⁴² And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

⁴³ Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.


***

⁴⁴ And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

⁴⁵ But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

⁴⁷ For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

⁴⁸ And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

⁴⁹ And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

⁵⁰ But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

⁵¹ But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

⁵² And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

*****

Overcoming By The Spirit Is Not Automatic

Book:  Overcoming Through God
Chapter 1
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet 

I was baptized in water when I was 15-years-old.

I was born again by the Spirit of God when I was 37-years-old. Then I had another spirit in me, to lead me and to guide me. Now I could overcome through God. I was a new creature.

II Cor. 5:17 … Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Overcoming through God’s Spirit is not automatic.

We learn to hear God and to pay attention to that small voice speaking in form of a thought, an idea … and then we choose to do that which is in keeping with the instruction given by that “small voice” in us, The Holy Spirit, The Spirit of Truth, The Comforter.

*****

When I was born again in 1975, the Holy Spirit said to me: “Joan … you know all those mistakes you’ve been making all these years? Those weren’t mistakes. Those were sins.”

SINS? … I was very shocked! I thought they were mistakes.

With that word from God, I was born again immediately by the Spirit of God and was given the Holy Spirit to dwell inside me to lead me and guide me.

But even though I was given the Holy Spirit, I still had to learn to hear which spirit was of God for we have thoughts and ideas coming by our own flesh, thoughts from devils, and thoughts and ideas from God, and often all three speak things to our minds that seem “good”.

Thus the apostle John said:

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:  I Jn. 4:1

We can pray, asking God to confirm which thought is from the Spirit of God.

We can pray, asking God for wisdom.

James 1:5 … If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

We overcome through God … not through our own ideas.

Our flesh is greatly lifted up in pride when we do something based on our own wisdom.

But when we ask God for HIS wisdom and receive HIS direction, how can we take fleshly pride for the idea was not from ourselves but from God …

Thus we keep our flesh under submission to God by seeking God’s wisdom and by choosing God’s wisdom.

The apostle Paul said …

I Cor. 9 … Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 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.

*****

BOOK: Overcoming Through God
Chapter 1

Joan Boney



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*****

Be not deceived.

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

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

(Jesus says, "I, the word, am the way ... ")

***

If they come thrilling us with their excitement over God, judge by this ...  Are they excited over the Word of God ... or are they excited over their imagination of God, of their own images of what God is apart from the Word?

Concerning one woman who looks godly from time to time, the Spirit of God said to me:

  "When she comes saying she did something because a specific scripture said to do such, judge by that."

And even then, the Spirit in us must witness.  For some religious people try to follow God by the letter of the law.


***

In the end time, deception will be rampant.

You cannot afford to allow your own fleshly emotions to lead you.

What did God say?

*****

.

Hymn:  Blessed Assurance



(Click forward arrow > to play music:)


1.   Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, 

Born of His Spirit, 
washed in His blood.


Chorus:

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.


2.   Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. 

3.   Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.


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

*****

Scriptures pertaining to this hymn:

v. 2  Angels descending, bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Work of Angels:  Bible examples

Angels come down from heaven as commanded by God to do various works of God according to the will of God.

* An angel of the Lord told Zacharias that his wife Elisabeth would bear a son and they should call his name John.

Luke 1:11-17    And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.  

And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

And he shall go before HIM (before Jesus) in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

***

* The angel Gabriel was sent to Mary to tell her she would have a son and to call his name Jesus.

Luke 1:26-35    And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,  To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David:

And HE shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of HIS kingdom there shall be no end.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

For with God nothing shall be impossible.  

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. 

And the angel departed from her.

*** 

* An angel told Joseph not to fear to take Mary for his wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.  

Matthew 1:18-25  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for HE shall save His people from their sins. 

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called His name Jesus. 

***

* An angel of the Lord told the shepherds that the Savior, Christ the Lord, had been born and they could find Him in a manger in Bethlehem.

Luke 2:8-15    And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

***

* An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to tell him to take Mary and Jesus and flee into Egypt. 

Matthew 2:13  And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt


***

* Later an angel told Joseph that they could go back into the land of Israel for the ruler who wanted to kill the baby Jesus was now dead. 

Matthew 2:19-21  But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 

***

* When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan 40-days, angels ministered to Him.

Mark 1:12-13  And immediately the spirit driveth Him into the wilderness. 

And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto Him.

***

* An angel of God moved the great stone which sealed the tomb of Jesus.

Matthew 28:2   And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

***

* An angel of God came down from heaven to free Peter from prison.

Acts 12:6-7  And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 

And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

***

* An angel delivered a message to the apostle Paul, telling Paul no harm would come to him and those on the ship.

Acts 27:18-25    And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.   

For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

***

Genesis 28:10-12    And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

Angels descend, carrying messages from God and doing works of God.

Then angels go back to heaven where God assigns them as He wills.

***

Psalm 130:20   Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word.

***

(Comments by Joan Boney ...) The night of January 10, 1980, I was asleep and awakened by a very loud trumpet-like voice which blew 3 words into my ear as follows: "Hartford, Seattle, KWJS" ... I believe this to have been an angel of God speaking to me. By this and through prayer, I came to believe God was leading me to go on radio. Within about 5 days of this word, I was broadcasting exhortations week-days on KWJS radio. Within a year I was on radio stations from NYC (Hartford) to Seattle.

***

Psalm 104:4   Who maketh His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire:


***

Exodus 23:20-25    God says:    Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for MY name (the Word) is in him.

But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.

Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.

And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and HE shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.

***

Notice how angels deliver messages from God to individuals.

Angels also do great works.  It was an angel who moved the large stone from the front of the tomb of Jesus.

***

It is not so much delighting in the fact that an angel appeared to you but rather delighting and following that word which the angel of God delivered to you.

Share the Word.

Focus on the Word.

*****

Instruction in Righteousness: Acts 12

Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

² And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

³ And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

⁴ And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

⁵ Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

⁶ And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

⁷ And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

⁸ And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals.

And so he did.

And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

⁹ And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

¹⁰ When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

¹¹ And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

¹² And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

¹³ And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.

¹⁴ And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

¹⁵ And they said unto her, Thou art mad. 

But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. 

Then said they, It is his angel.

¹⁶ But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.

¹⁷ But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison.

 And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.


***

¹⁸ Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

¹⁹ And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. 

And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.

²⁰ And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country.

²¹ And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.

²² And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.

²³ And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

²⁴ But the word of God grew and multiplied.

²⁵ And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

*****

Overcoming Through God

Book:  Overcoming Through God
Preface
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet 


Before we were born again, we tried to overcome the various problems of this life by wisdom of man, by figuring things out by our own mind … by that which seemed right to us.

After we are born again and have been given the Spirit of God, we have the power to know what is right in the sight of God, for the spirit of God searches the heart of God to show us the will of God.  I Corinthians 2

Therefore Jesus says:

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and HIS righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Matthew 6:33

The subject of this book and the examples given in this book are examples of overcoming through God, not through our flesh as we once did.

Isaiah 55 … For MY thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways MY ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways and MY thoughts than your thoughts.

Joan Boney

*****

BOOK: Overcoming Through God
Preface

Joan Boney



E-book: $.99

Paperback: $5.99

(USA Prices)

Order from: Amazon.com

*****

Jesus says: Take heed what ye hear (Mk.4:24)

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Sometimes I will read an email and think the person said one thing and I am shocked when I reread the email and see that person did not say what I thought.

Even on secular things it is important to hear what was really said or to get facts straight.

When Pam Padgett and I watch TV together, there is a Kindle tablet nearby.  Often when I state something, Pam is looking it up on Kindle and if my facts are off, such as a date of a secular event, Pam will tell me what the Internet says ... I love it!

Checking ourselves is good.

Truth has to be a way of life with us.

For the apostle Paul said:

II Thessalonians 2:10-12    And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Paul says:  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.   (I Thessalonians 5:21)


***

A few days ago, Pam Padgett sent a report where she witnessed a phone call and at the end she quoted I Corinthians 5 ... but Pam wrote in the email II Corinthians 5 ... I knew what Pam meant, and the email was to our very small church group of 5 people, but even then it is important.

There is a woman in our church group who will point out to me a detail I have either omitted or made a mistake in and I never take offense.  I am glad she brought it to my attention.

It is not that we are reading looking for errors but rather when we see error we deal with that error in an appropriate way.

When I write an email to our little group of 5 people, I proof read what I wrote, and often find a typographical error and make correction, even when the error does not affect the meaning of the message.

When I write on blog, I usually proof read the message several times, at least 3 times, and sometimes I will find I have left out one letter or failed to put a comma, and I make these small, seemingly insignificant, changes.

But really such things are not insignificant.

These patterns of life affect us in other ways.


***

When we were writing our book, concerning how to use a Kindle, God taught me to fix the problems, even if that problem was a very small thing such as adding a comma. If I see it, take time to correct it.

That has greatly carried over to my life.  Take care of each detail, which I am careful to do.

Don't let it slip.

The way of life by which we train ourselves could affect something really important.

Hebrews 2:1-3    Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him;

***

Jesus tells us: 

Luke 16:10-11    He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 

***

Computers are wonderful, and I certainly don't want to return to days before computers, but one thing I've noticed is how they cause me to rush even more past that which I am doing and how they can disrupt another thing.  And they cause me to want to go faster, faster, even wanting the computer to go faster!   Why? when I have the rest of the day to do something?

I have felt this as I am watching a movie and at same time begin looking up something on my computer, for example to see if any new emails have appeared.  I really believe it would be better to pause the movie, and then look up the item on computer, for I think we teach ourselves not to hear when we do two things at once. 

Also we might teach ourselves to be double minded by trying to do two things at once.

It is a way of life and discipline for us!


***

A few days ago, I was reading something in Bible or on blog and I began wanting to rush on through this and get to something else.  

I stopped myself and looked at clock and said to myself:  

"It is 11 a.m. You will likely be awake until midnight.  You have all those hours to look at something else."  

With that concept I reread what I was reading and thought about what I was reading.

Discipline is probably needed in order to "Take heed what we hear", as Jesus warned us to do.


***

A very serious thing in hearing has to do with keeping our heart free from bitterness.

When we read Bible or anything else, if we have bitterness in our heart, our judgment of what we read or hear can be perverted.

Often all we are interested in is gathering things by which we can attack that person who offended us.

We must get the offense settled with God by turning to God and allowing God to work with our heart and create a right spirit within us on the disruptive subject.

We must keep our heart at all time through prayer and by resolving the issue with God and clearing our own heart by what God gives us.

To allow perceived offenses to seeth in our hearts will set up destruction for ourselves.

Even if we are right in the matter, (and when there is strife don't we think we are right?) but even if we are right, to burn in our hearts with the issue and to fail to resolve the issue with God is deadly for us.

Recently I spent most of two days just sitting alone in my room, while praying and allowing God to work through my heart after I had been attacked by a person.

Then when I was sure God had given me HIS thinking on the matter, I wrote on blog, reporting what I believed to be judgment from God.

See writing:  The enemies of God, who fight against us who are of God, will not win.  Published June 6, 2019 ... see blog archive on right hand side of home page ... Jesus Ministries Exhortations

***

I am constantly aware of the spirit by which I am speaking.

We can speak truth and speak by the wrong spirit and corrupt or harm other people.

Haven't each of us been angry over something and spoken before we settled that matter with God ...  and then been sorry we spoke to another about that over which we were angry?

Or haven't we been upset over something or someone and been in a conversation with another person and failed to hear what that other person was saying because of the turmoil we had in our heart over another matter?

Take heed what ye hear.  Mark 4:24


***

Daily we grow nearer to the end of time and the return of Jesus.

The Bible tells us the devil will be even more furious and active in these days.

Revelation 12:12    Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

We must keep our hearts immediately upon perceived offence by take that offense to God in prayer and in faith and by allowing God to settle the matter in us, in our hearts.


***

A few days ago, a woman called Pam.  I was sitting there in the room when she called.  She is a friend of mine.  But she didn't know I was hearing her phone call to Pam.  

At the end of her report, which was about the house we have in Texas, she asked Pam how I am doing.

I spoke up and said I am fine.

I took the phone to talk with this woman, but she quickly terminated the phone call.

I knew she didn't want to talk with me.  I was hurt at first, but God quickly straightened me out with HIS truth.  She is a little afraid of me.  I send specific writings to her.  She can read or not read.  But to be confronted with a direct phone call is something that cannot be escaped!

***

Beware:  If we don't have time to read Bible or blog, why do we try to read.  

I don't read Bible if I am under attack by another person and having to strive with that person.  In a case of attack or strife, I pray instead of reading Bible.  Then if I am reminded of a scripture I look at that scripture.  But usually in such a time, I have to wait before it is safe to read Bible again.

There is such a danger of perverting scriptures until my heart is made right by God through HIS Spirit.


Jesus says:  Take heed what ye hear.  Mark 4:24

*****

None of the wicked can understand. Daniel 12

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Concerning the last days ...

Daniel 12    

2-3   And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

10   Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

***

There are times we do not want to give up our anger.  We do not want to give up a perceived offense.

There are times a person goes so far in anger and unforgiveness that he does not want God's judgment in the matter.

We have to be willing to be healed.

Recently I reported how I was upset with the realtor who was representing the house we have in Texas which is for-sale.

I knew at the time of my anger against her that I did not want to give up that anger and forgive her for her failure to act concerning the house.

But I also knew it was deadly for me if I continued in anger against this woman.

So I gave up and allowed God to heal me and allowed God to make my heart right again.

We have to be willing for God to heal us.

***

If we persist in anger, we will end up doing wickedly and then we will not be able to see.  We will not be able to understand for we are then wicked.  

Will God remove the Holy Spirit from us?

David thought God might remove HIS Spirit from him.  David pleaded with God:  Psalm 51:11   Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Jesus said:

Matthew 6:15   But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

Revelation 2:5   Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Revelation 3:5   He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

***

We should see that if we go along with the way of devils and fail to overcome, Jesus can blot our name from the book of life.

If we refuse to forgive, we know God will not forgive us.

I believe God could remove the Holy Spirit from us.

It is the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin.  

John 16:7-8    Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

If the Holy Spirit is removed how can a person understand?  

A person without the Holy Spirit will continue in his sins.

But when the Spirit of Truth comes to the person, we understand.

***

So keep your heart with all diligence through prayer and by allowing God to bring HIS truth to you that you can be saved.

To reason away that brought by the Holy Spirit and to follow devils who speak what you want to hear is damnation.

We must not side with our flesh and with devils.

We must cling to truth from God that we can be saved to eternal life.

For things will get very bad in the last days.  And devils are rampant bringing lies to humans and leading humans to go in a wrong way.

***

We, who are born again, must not die in our sins.

Repent and let God save you for all eternity.

That offense which you think came against you is not worth eternal life for you, is it?

*****