Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
I Cor. 11 ...
v. 23 ...the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
This bread which provides nourishment is symbolic of JESUS, HIMSELF. He took this bread and broke it. HE showed no man took HIS life. HE gave HIS life for the church. HE broke it HIMSELF.
And HE told his disciples to take, eat ...
Churches looked at this by natural eyes and set up bread (usually crackers) and called it "communion" ...
This foolishness, is doctrine of man.
The real communion with God is done through eating and drinking that given by JESUS, THE WORD.
And we eat "that which is given us by Jesus" ... HE gave this bread to HIS disciples.
We eat THE WORD that is given us by the Spirit of God. This is the power of God. This is the Lord's supper.
Jn. 6 ... I (The Word) am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread (The Word), 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? 53Then 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. 57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me (The Word), even he shall live by me. 58This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
I Cor. 11 ...
25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
In Jn. 6: Jesus said ... I (the Word) am the bread of life:
... I (the Word) am that bread of life.
When Jesus taught HIS disciples to pray and taught the following: "Give us this day our daily bread," HE was speaking of give us today that Word of God which is life to us.
Jn. 6 ... For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35And Jesus said unto them, I (The Word) am the bread of life:
The "bread" Jesus talks about through the New Testament is HIMSELF, THE WORD. Life is in that WORD given us by Jesus, by HIS Spirit. This is the bread. It is JESUS, THE WORD. (It is not crackers/grape juice which has no power at all.)
So we take THE WORD and we "eat" it.
But we are warned to be very careful how we eat the WORD.
Paul explains: I Cor. 11 ...
26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
If we hear THE WORD by the Spirit of God and skim over it and rush on to "important" things, we are guilty of the body and blood of Jesus because what we have done is like they did when they crucified Jesus. They did not consider Jesus important so they eliminated Him.
I Cor. 11 ... 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
We examine ourselves by the Word of God and this is the way we eat of that bread and drink of that cup, examining ourselves by the Word, and making appropriate changes, conforming to the "image" given by that Word.
But if we hear the word and rush on to something else, we show we consider THE WORD to be unimportant. Therefore we eat in an "unworthy" manner.
I Cor. 11 ...29For 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 (die). 31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
All I Cor. 11, pertains to the eating and drinking of the Word of God. (It has nothing at all to do with the practices set up by so many churches where they eat crackers and drink grape juice and call such "The Lord's Supper". That is simply a worthless doctrine of the flesh of man and has no power. But doing the word of God has great power.)
So beware of how you read these scriptures. Beware of how you approach the Bible.
It has the power to save you from your fleshly traps, but that same Word has the power to bring "damnation" to you if you wrongly partake of the Word. (I Cor. 11:29)
And it is that Word that separates us to God, sanctifying us ... Jn. 17 ... Jesus says to God ... Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Sanctify means: to be set apart to
The Word makes us different from the world. By the Word we are set apart from the world, changed, and set apart to God. This is the difference between us and the people of the world, THE WORD.
(Providing daily encouragement for the body of Christ by the Spirit of God to help the church in the end times.)
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Scripture: Shared by body of Christ
Psalm 56:3 ... What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
Exhortation: (Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet)
Fears come concerning so many things. Fear is a concern of what will happen to us if such and such takes place ...
To live in peace, we must pay attention to these fears and take each fear to God in prayer, asking Him if we need to do something now concerning this fear or if it will be all right.
Some people just say boastfully ... "Oh, that will never happen to me ... God will never let that happen to me." They think this is faith. But faith is hearing what God has to say about the issue and that often requires us to turn to God with the matter and lay it all out before HIM and ask HIM what (if anything) we are to do.
Several events caused me to have a great fear that I would go blind, losing my vision. What if I can't drive? What if I can't see? I took it all to God and asked HIM and I had it resolved by God is a very strange way. I was reminded of 3 bridge players who are now dead. The two women couldn't see much at all yet they continued to drive themselves to bridge and they had no accident. The man I was reminded of was 94 and in terrible shape, having only one eye and a hole in the other socket. He drove a very big, 1970's type Cadillac. When he left bridge center, he would rev the motor of the car and spin out, throwing gravel, and without stopping pull onto the highway. He never had an accident. I felt God was showing me I would be OK. And after that I had such an assurance from God that it didn't matter what eye tests showed or what doctor had to say. I knew in my heart I would be OK.
But you must hear from God on the matter at hand. It always begins with What does God have to say about this matter?
Exhortation: (Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet)
Fears come concerning so many things. Fear is a concern of what will happen to us if such and such takes place ...
To live in peace, we must pay attention to these fears and take each fear to God in prayer, asking Him if we need to do something now concerning this fear or if it will be all right.
Some people just say boastfully ... "Oh, that will never happen to me ... God will never let that happen to me." They think this is faith. But faith is hearing what God has to say about the issue and that often requires us to turn to God with the matter and lay it all out before HIM and ask HIM what (if anything) we are to do.
Several events caused me to have a great fear that I would go blind, losing my vision. What if I can't drive? What if I can't see? I took it all to God and asked HIM and I had it resolved by God is a very strange way. I was reminded of 3 bridge players who are now dead. The two women couldn't see much at all yet they continued to drive themselves to bridge and they had no accident. The man I was reminded of was 94 and in terrible shape, having only one eye and a hole in the other socket. He drove a very big, 1970's type Cadillac. When he left bridge center, he would rev the motor of the car and spin out, throwing gravel, and without stopping pull onto the highway. He never had an accident. I felt God was showing me I would be OK. And after that I had such an assurance from God that it didn't matter what eye tests showed or what doctor had to say. I knew in my heart I would be OK.
But you must hear from God on the matter at hand. It always begins with What does God have to say about this matter?
Meditation examples
Meditation: Joan Boney
Psa. 148:13 ... Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
THE LORD / THE WORD ... alone is excellent
excellent ...
- extremely good at or proficient in an activity
- outstanding
- preeminent / excels
- out beyond/lofty
- noble, exalted
Flesh wants to exalt flesh ...
We exalt God, THE WORD ...
HE never fails ...
HIS glory is above the earth and heaven ... The sun and the moon and the stars glorify God for HE created them and by HIS WORD places them and they stay where God put them until HE speaks again and they then do what HE says. This is also how we glorify God. We stay where God puts us until HE speaks otherwise.
I Cor. 7 ... But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. 18Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 20Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. 21Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. 23Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
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Meditation: Pam Padgett
Psalm 140:6 I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.
Thou art my God ...
- above all ... nothing or no one is above God
- created me (and all things) and knows everything about me
- teaches me and guides me in the way that is right in HIS sight
- His word is right, good, light, true ... will not fail
- has all power
- my help
- my hope
- my protection
- my provider
- cares for me
- never leaves me
- hears my prayers and answers me
Psa. 148:13 ... Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
THE LORD / THE WORD ... alone is excellent
excellent ...
- extremely good at or proficient in an activity
- outstanding
- preeminent / excels
- out beyond/lofty
- noble, exalted
Flesh wants to exalt flesh ...
We exalt God, THE WORD ...
HE never fails ...
HIS glory is above the earth and heaven ... The sun and the moon and the stars glorify God for HE created them and by HIS WORD places them and they stay where God put them until HE speaks again and they then do what HE says. This is also how we glorify God. We stay where God puts us until HE speaks otherwise.
I Cor. 7 ... But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. 18Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 20Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. 21Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. 23Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
=========
Meditation: Pam Padgett
Psalm 140:6 I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.
Thou art my God ...
- above all ... nothing or no one is above God
- created me (and all things) and knows everything about me
- teaches me and guides me in the way that is right in HIS sight
- His word is right, good, light, true ... will not fail
- has all power
- my help
- my hope
- my protection
- my provider
- cares for me
- never leaves me
- hears my prayers and answers me
Proper eating of the Lord's supper
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
In I Cor. 11, Paul explains ... For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. v. 26
What does this mean? I asked God.
Later I was reminded of the following. When we eat and drink the Word of God and thereby see something we decide to give up that conflicts with the Word of God, people wonder, "Why did she do that?" Often they even ask me why I no longer do what I once did. The reason I quit is the Word of God. It is like I died to that part of the world. And thereby I show the Lord's death through my death.
I once played duplicate bridge. I quit because I didn't like what I saw coming out of me in form of a dispute with another bridge player. But then I saw a scripture and because of this scripture I knew I would not return to playing bridge as I once played bridge.
Phil. 2 ... 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,
I set about to do what this scripture said ... To make myself of no reputation ...
(Gal. 2:20 ... I am crucified with Christ ...)
I checked each area of my life and cut out anything I saw that might make me seem good in the flesh in the eyes of man ... Of course I was doing this prayerfully, eliminating anything shown me by the Spirit of God otherwise it would just be flesh doing it and would avail nothing spiritually.
A few people called me and tried to get me to return to bridge. Each time I mentioned the above scripture which I was trying to put into my life. One woman wrote me encouraging me to return to bridge center. I wrote her and cited scripture though I know she is not a believer.
In each situation, I believe I was led by the Spirit of God and in each situation I believe I showed the Lord's death until His return as Paul spoke of in I Cor. 11:26 ...
Partaking of the Lord's supper is eating the flesh of Jesus and drinking the blood of Jesus. Jn. 6:53 ... 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.
The Lord's supper is eating and drinking the Word of God.
I Cor. 11 ... For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29For 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. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
All this pertains to the eating and drinking of the Word of God in a proper way. This is not eating of crackers nor drinking of grape juice as many church groups are taught by man and by tradition of man. There is no power at all in crackers and grape juice. But there is great power in the correct eating of the Word of God.
Please read: What is the Lord's supper?
In I Cor. 11, Paul explains ... For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. v. 26
What does this mean? I asked God.
Later I was reminded of the following. When we eat and drink the Word of God and thereby see something we decide to give up that conflicts with the Word of God, people wonder, "Why did she do that?" Often they even ask me why I no longer do what I once did. The reason I quit is the Word of God. It is like I died to that part of the world. And thereby I show the Lord's death through my death.
I once played duplicate bridge. I quit because I didn't like what I saw coming out of me in form of a dispute with another bridge player. But then I saw a scripture and because of this scripture I knew I would not return to playing bridge as I once played bridge.
Phil. 2 ... 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,
I set about to do what this scripture said ... To make myself of no reputation ...
(Gal. 2:20 ... I am crucified with Christ ...)
I checked each area of my life and cut out anything I saw that might make me seem good in the flesh in the eyes of man ... Of course I was doing this prayerfully, eliminating anything shown me by the Spirit of God otherwise it would just be flesh doing it and would avail nothing spiritually.
A few people called me and tried to get me to return to bridge. Each time I mentioned the above scripture which I was trying to put into my life. One woman wrote me encouraging me to return to bridge center. I wrote her and cited scripture though I know she is not a believer.
In each situation, I believe I was led by the Spirit of God and in each situation I believe I showed the Lord's death until His return as Paul spoke of in I Cor. 11:26 ...
Partaking of the Lord's supper is eating the flesh of Jesus and drinking the blood of Jesus. Jn. 6:53 ... 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.
The Lord's supper is eating and drinking the Word of God.
I Cor. 11 ... For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29For 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. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
All this pertains to the eating and drinking of the Word of God in a proper way. This is not eating of crackers nor drinking of grape juice as many church groups are taught by man and by tradition of man. There is no power at all in crackers and grape juice. But there is great power in the correct eating of the Word of God.
Please read: What is the Lord's supper?
Friday, November 15, 2013
Scripture: Shared by body of Christ
Genesis 8:22 ... While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and
cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Exhortation: (Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet)
During the nuclear age, man has worried about the planet being affected by things man can do to it ... nuclear winter ... global warming ... and such.
But we who know the Bible know the end of the world will not come by what man does but by what God does.
II Peter 3 ... 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.
8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10But 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.
11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Several years ago, I had a dream where the earth slipped on it's axis. People were terrified. The TV newscaster was so frightened he couldn't continue telling the story. The religious leaders and scientists were meeting with government officials to see what could be done.
Only God could cause the earth to slip on it's axis. And no man could cause this or stop this.
Jesus said, before HIS coming, ... Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Mt. 24
Right now, everything is being held in place by the power of God. The sun shines. The moon gives light. The stars are in place in the heaven. But when the day of the Lord comes, God will speak and things will start to happen according to HIS word.
Until then everything is held in place by the same WORD.
So we do not have to worry about the things the people of this world worry about for we know the real truth.
Exhortation: (Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet)
During the nuclear age, man has worried about the planet being affected by things man can do to it ... nuclear winter ... global warming ... and such.
But we who know the Bible know the end of the world will not come by what man does but by what God does.
II Peter 3 ... 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.
8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10But 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.
11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Several years ago, I had a dream where the earth slipped on it's axis. People were terrified. The TV newscaster was so frightened he couldn't continue telling the story. The religious leaders and scientists were meeting with government officials to see what could be done.
Only God could cause the earth to slip on it's axis. And no man could cause this or stop this.
Jesus said, before HIS coming, ... Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Mt. 24
Right now, everything is being held in place by the power of God. The sun shines. The moon gives light. The stars are in place in the heaven. But when the day of the Lord comes, God will speak and things will start to happen according to HIS word.
Until then everything is held in place by the same WORD.
So we do not have to worry about the things the people of this world worry about for we know the real truth.
Meditation examples
Meditating in the Word of God
Comments by Joan Boney ... While I enjoy reading the scriptures and examples given each day by others, what I really enjoy is hunting my own food from the Bible. Of course, if a scripture is called to my mind, I focus on that scripture. But if nothing is called to mind, I just pick up Bible and begin looking at various underlined passages and something always catches my interest and I focus on that scripture. It is so important for each of us to find our own food daily.
----------------------
Meditation: Joan Boney
I Tim. 1:1 ... according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus. (the WORD)
promise: guarantee (when it is from God)
life:
- capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity and continual change
- make or become active or interesting ... power
Comments by Joan Boney ... While I enjoy reading the scriptures and examples given each day by others, what I really enjoy is hunting my own food from the Bible. Of course, if a scripture is called to my mind, I focus on that scripture. But if nothing is called to mind, I just pick up Bible and begin looking at various underlined passages and something always catches my interest and I focus on that scripture. It is so important for each of us to find our own food daily.
----------------------
Meditation: Joan Boney
I Tim. 1:1 ... according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus. (the WORD)
promise: guarantee (when it is from God)
life:
- capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity and continual change
- make or become active or interesting ... power
Error corrected by Spirit of God
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
The world and the people of the world speak and live many things contrary to the Word of God and sometimes these sayings try to creep into our lives and take us in ways set up by man and not God.
Recently a woman told me I should not eat fish more than once or twice a week. At the same time she said this, I was reading a secular novel and read the same thing in the novel that she had said.
This morning these worldly saying were uprooted by the Spirit of God WHO reminded me of the following instruction from God in the Bible:
I Tim. 4 ... Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Also I was reminded of Jesus in following: Jn. 21 ... After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. 2There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. 3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. 4But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 7Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 8And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. 9As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 13Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 14This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
And I thought of how certain nations today, Japanese & Chinese, are shown as big fish eaters and thrive on such.
In all this, I saw the Holy Spirit fighting sayings of the world which are not right but merely "fables" ...
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 7But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. I Tim. 4
The world and the people of the world speak and live many things contrary to the Word of God and sometimes these sayings try to creep into our lives and take us in ways set up by man and not God.
Recently a woman told me I should not eat fish more than once or twice a week. At the same time she said this, I was reading a secular novel and read the same thing in the novel that she had said.
This morning these worldly saying were uprooted by the Spirit of God WHO reminded me of the following instruction from God in the Bible:
I Tim. 4 ... Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Also I was reminded of Jesus in following: Jn. 21 ... After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. 2There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. 3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. 4But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 7Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 8And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. 9As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 13Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 14This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
And I thought of how certain nations today, Japanese & Chinese, are shown as big fish eaters and thrive on such.
In all this, I saw the Holy Spirit fighting sayings of the world which are not right but merely "fables" ...
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 7But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. I Tim. 4
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Scripture: Shared by body of Christ
Psalm 84:12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
Exhortation: (Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet)
After God reveals HIMSELF to us, choosing us as HIS children, we often have times when we must make a deliberate decision to trust in God regardless of the way things appear.
I've had several times in the past 30 years when this has been the case. I just have to cling to what I believe God has said. There are times during the trial that I do not have understanding of why something is happening. I just have to turn to God in prayer and cling to anything called to my attention and endure by putting my faith in God, knowing I belong to the God who created heaven and earth.
These can be hard times and a struggle but eventually it comes to an end.
And sometimes after it ends, God may allow us to understand ... and other times we might not understand. But regardless, we purpose to trust in HIM.
Exhortation: (Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet)
After God reveals HIMSELF to us, choosing us as HIS children, we often have times when we must make a deliberate decision to trust in God regardless of the way things appear.
I've had several times in the past 30 years when this has been the case. I just have to cling to what I believe God has said. There are times during the trial that I do not have understanding of why something is happening. I just have to turn to God in prayer and cling to anything called to my attention and endure by putting my faith in God, knowing I belong to the God who created heaven and earth.
These can be hard times and a struggle but eventually it comes to an end.
And sometimes after it ends, God may allow us to understand ... and other times we might not understand. But regardless, we purpose to trust in HIM.
Meditation examples
Comments by Joan Boney ...
Meditating in the Word of God is life to us. It is like a blood transfusion. We take in HIS blood by doing this. HE is our life. We must do this in a "worthy" way. We give the Word of God proper attention, making time for this crucial act which is life to us. We must handle the Word of God properly, with great respect, applying the Word to our lives. We make an effort toward the Word of God. If we handle the Word of God unworthily, Paul says we are guilty of the body and the blood of Jesus. I Cor. 11:27. Like those who considered Jesus as worthless and consented to put HIM away, we do this if we fail to consider the Word of God important in our daily lives. The Word of God should be like that pearl of great price. Often we have to hunt for that Word, seeking the specific scripture that touches us that day. Then we give it the proper attention and time and thought and apply it to our lives. The Word of God must be treated carefully with great respect. I have seen people who even think themselves to be pastors and fail to respect the Word of God, adding to it wrongly and misusing the Word of God. I consider the Word of God to be a "fearful" thing, to be handled properly. Some toss the Word of God about carelessly, thinking nothing of wrongly adding to the Word or taking away from the Word. Some use the Word in wrong places by their own flesh and allow it to be hated and trampled under foot of man.
Unless we eat HIS flesh and drink HIS blood we have no life in us. His flesh, His blood is the Word of God.
We must seek that word daily ... treat it properly when finding it ... apply it in a proper way ... and treasure it above all else on this earth. Nothing is as important to us as THE WORD. How can you cast it aside as nothing in order to focus on this life and the cares of this life? Is that not what they did when they crucified Christ, counting Him as nothing?
So we who really care rise up early if we have to do so to get that food. We sit up late when needed in order to seek that Word. There is nothing else like it to us. There is no one more important to us. We put a effort daily to find it and eat it.
Paul says some mishandle the Word of God and "for this cause" they are weak and sickly and some die. (I Cor. 11)
You must not deceive yourself. It is not the hearer of the Word that is blessed. It is the doer of the Word who is blessed. It is the one who puts his faith in God minute by minute. And to do that takes personal effort toward the Word of God.
===============
Meditation: Joan Boney
Psa. 1 ... Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
leaf shall not wither when we stay by that "river of water", drinking from that "river of water" ...
To wither is:
- to cease to flourish
- to fall into decay or decline
- to cause harm of damage to
- to fail because of neglect or inaction
- to become dry and shrivled
I have an acquaintance who is like a bird trapped inside a house. That bird flies into a wall and then flies into another wall ... and then another wall ... This woman is full of activity and thinks herself to be profitable because she is busy all day without "wasting" time. But her whole life is a waste. Yet there is no way she could understand this. When she was given an opportunity to a single scripture, she thought it nothing and cast it aside and went on her own way. She considers herself godly. She is member of a church, Catholic. The scripture I gave her: Jesus said: Mt. 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven (Even the Catholic Bible has this verse in it. Amazing!)
But she is blind and doesn't know it. And I cannot help her. So she keeps beating her head against a wall to no real benefit though to her she benefits. She is without real understanding which comes from properly heeding scripture. But she would have none of scripture when it was given. Had she heeded that one verse it would have changed her life. But to her it was nothing, though she thanked me for sending it to her. All I see from her is her own destruction. Prov. 4:19 ... The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Wicked is defined as those who cause harm or trouble. We see such constantly as we hear them speak. They smile and try to appear to be good people but they open their mouths and evil comes out. And they have no idea they have spoken evil. But we know. And we can't communicate with them. Don't each of us see this? It just won't work. Light and darkness cannot co-exist. Between us is that great gulf which is created by God to separate HIS people from them. We must not be distracted by them. We keep ourselves to God by the Word of God as we eat HIS flesh and drink HIS blood with deliberate purpose daily. We go one way which they can't see. They go in a way we can't go It won't work.
=================
Meditation: Pam Padgett
Numbers 15:1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you,
give - cause or allow to have; provide or supply with
It isn't what I work out for myself or provide for myself that is good ... but that which God has chosen for me and gives to me
If I try to provide for myself I could land up going the wrong way, with the wrong things, or with what is dangerous for me. I don't even know what I need and how much I need ... uncertain, inadequate
That which God provides for me is good, safe, and sufficient for my life now and in the future.
That which God gives to me is what I need, lacking nothing, and is perfect
Don't try to provide for myself by my own wisdom ... turn to God, trust in God and HIS provision as HE leads me in the way I am to go.
Meditating in the Word of God is life to us. It is like a blood transfusion. We take in HIS blood by doing this. HE is our life. We must do this in a "worthy" way. We give the Word of God proper attention, making time for this crucial act which is life to us. We must handle the Word of God properly, with great respect, applying the Word to our lives. We make an effort toward the Word of God. If we handle the Word of God unworthily, Paul says we are guilty of the body and the blood of Jesus. I Cor. 11:27. Like those who considered Jesus as worthless and consented to put HIM away, we do this if we fail to consider the Word of God important in our daily lives. The Word of God should be like that pearl of great price. Often we have to hunt for that Word, seeking the specific scripture that touches us that day. Then we give it the proper attention and time and thought and apply it to our lives. The Word of God must be treated carefully with great respect. I have seen people who even think themselves to be pastors and fail to respect the Word of God, adding to it wrongly and misusing the Word of God. I consider the Word of God to be a "fearful" thing, to be handled properly. Some toss the Word of God about carelessly, thinking nothing of wrongly adding to the Word or taking away from the Word. Some use the Word in wrong places by their own flesh and allow it to be hated and trampled under foot of man.
Unless we eat HIS flesh and drink HIS blood we have no life in us. His flesh, His blood is the Word of God.
We must seek that word daily ... treat it properly when finding it ... apply it in a proper way ... and treasure it above all else on this earth. Nothing is as important to us as THE WORD. How can you cast it aside as nothing in order to focus on this life and the cares of this life? Is that not what they did when they crucified Christ, counting Him as nothing?
So we who really care rise up early if we have to do so to get that food. We sit up late when needed in order to seek that Word. There is nothing else like it to us. There is no one more important to us. We put a effort daily to find it and eat it.
Paul says some mishandle the Word of God and "for this cause" they are weak and sickly and some die. (I Cor. 11)
You must not deceive yourself. It is not the hearer of the Word that is blessed. It is the doer of the Word who is blessed. It is the one who puts his faith in God minute by minute. And to do that takes personal effort toward the Word of God.
===============
Meditation: Joan Boney
Psa. 1 ... Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
leaf shall not wither when we stay by that "river of water", drinking from that "river of water" ...
To wither is:
- to cease to flourish
- to fall into decay or decline
- to cause harm of damage to
- to fail because of neglect or inaction
- to become dry and shrivled
I have an acquaintance who is like a bird trapped inside a house. That bird flies into a wall and then flies into another wall ... and then another wall ... This woman is full of activity and thinks herself to be profitable because she is busy all day without "wasting" time. But her whole life is a waste. Yet there is no way she could understand this. When she was given an opportunity to a single scripture, she thought it nothing and cast it aside and went on her own way. She considers herself godly. She is member of a church, Catholic. The scripture I gave her: Jesus said: Mt. 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven (Even the Catholic Bible has this verse in it. Amazing!)
But she is blind and doesn't know it. And I cannot help her. So she keeps beating her head against a wall to no real benefit though to her she benefits. She is without real understanding which comes from properly heeding scripture. But she would have none of scripture when it was given. Had she heeded that one verse it would have changed her life. But to her it was nothing, though she thanked me for sending it to her. All I see from her is her own destruction. Prov. 4:19 ... The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Wicked is defined as those who cause harm or trouble. We see such constantly as we hear them speak. They smile and try to appear to be good people but they open their mouths and evil comes out. And they have no idea they have spoken evil. But we know. And we can't communicate with them. Don't each of us see this? It just won't work. Light and darkness cannot co-exist. Between us is that great gulf which is created by God to separate HIS people from them. We must not be distracted by them. We keep ourselves to God by the Word of God as we eat HIS flesh and drink HIS blood with deliberate purpose daily. We go one way which they can't see. They go in a way we can't go It won't work.
=================
Meditation: Pam Padgett
Numbers 15:1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you,
give - cause or allow to have; provide or supply with
It isn't what I work out for myself or provide for myself that is good ... but that which God has chosen for me and gives to me
If I try to provide for myself I could land up going the wrong way, with the wrong things, or with what is dangerous for me. I don't even know what I need and how much I need ... uncertain, inadequate
That which God provides for me is good, safe, and sufficient for my life now and in the future.
That which God gives to me is what I need, lacking nothing, and is perfect
Don't try to provide for myself by my own wisdom ... turn to God, trust in God and HIS provision as HE leads me in the way I am to go.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Scripture: Shared by body of Christ
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not
I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for
me.
Exhortation: (Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet)
When God reveals HIMSELF to us through Jesus by the Holy Spirit, we have a power we did not have before.
Before this, we served our own flesh.
After God reveals HIMSELF to us through Jesus by the Holy Spirit we are free to serve God in the spirit. The power the flesh once had over us is overcome by a greater power which frees us to serve God.
Romans 6 ... How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Exhortation: (Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet)
When God reveals HIMSELF to us through Jesus by the Holy Spirit, we have a power we did not have before.
Before this, we served our own flesh.
After God reveals HIMSELF to us through Jesus by the Holy Spirit we are free to serve God in the spirit. The power the flesh once had over us is overcome by a greater power which frees us to serve God.
Romans 6 ... How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Meditation examples
Concerning meditation in Word of God ... Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Meditating in scripture is one important way of eating and drinking the flesh and blood of Jesus, The Word.
We search for a specific scripture that "appeals" to us. We, who are accustomed to doing this daily, begin reading Bible or underlined passages of Bible, and when something catches our interest we STOP and focus on that scripture. And we try to apply that scripture in an appropriate way to our lives. As we do this, we partake of the specific food that we need at that point in time.
Each of us have different needs. The Holy Spirit in us deals with those needs. Sometimes we are even prepared for that which is to come that same day by looking at the scripture that stands out to us.
Yesterday Mt. 6 ... Take no thought for the morrow stood out to me. It also says: Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (We have enough to deal with today without thinking of what might happen tomorrow.) I spent several minutes yesterday rereading that scripture and looking up words such as "tomorrow" ... Later in the day, a water line broke at one of the baths at my house. Although there was initial panic, I felt a calmness in knowing just to deal with that and not to think of the possible consequences.
Also earlier in the day, I was dealing with a problem concerning a person. Later I saw that I did not have a problem with that person. I was concerned about a possible future problem. Again, "take no thought for tomorrow" ... When I stopped taking thought for what might happen and did what I saw in this scripture, I felt great freedom.
You can watch me find my food ... and you can watch me prepare my food ... and you can watch me eat my food ... and you can hear me talk about my food ... and you can still starve to death unless you search for your own food and eat that food daily. We eat natural food daily. So we must eat spiritual food daily. If we fail to search for our food and eat our food, we will grow very weak and fail to come into the spiritual blessings that are out there. We must search for and eat daily food to grow strong in the Lord.
I enjoy reading examples given by others but I know the thing that really means most to me is the food I find and the food I eat.
So beware of just watching us without finding and eating your own food!
--------------------
Meditation: Joan Boney
Psalm 1 ... Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
By meditating day and night in scripture, I am like that tree planted by the rivers of water ... I will bring forth fruit in season ... not too early ... not too late ... just on time ...
============
Meditation: Pam Padgett
Psalm 129:2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.
afflicted:
cause pain or suffering
affect or trouble
weaken or knock down
prevailed:
prove to be more powerful
be victorious
As I thought about what has afflicted me ... sometimes affliction is from people, but also thoughts from the devil affect and trouble me, or things such as incorrect doctrines I've been taught
-- doctrines of catholic church I was taught as a child
-- outcast for doing right in sight of God (such as singles, work)
-- coming in contact with those who cause trouble (such as roofer)
-- thoughts from the devil
-- my own flesh's "good ideas"
At times its looked like they were too powerful for me, but the word of God brought by the Holy Spirit in each matter has delivered me and strengthened me in truth
Meditating in scripture is one important way of eating and drinking the flesh and blood of Jesus, The Word.
We search for a specific scripture that "appeals" to us. We, who are accustomed to doing this daily, begin reading Bible or underlined passages of Bible, and when something catches our interest we STOP and focus on that scripture. And we try to apply that scripture in an appropriate way to our lives. As we do this, we partake of the specific food that we need at that point in time.
Each of us have different needs. The Holy Spirit in us deals with those needs. Sometimes we are even prepared for that which is to come that same day by looking at the scripture that stands out to us.
Yesterday Mt. 6 ... Take no thought for the morrow stood out to me. It also says: Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (We have enough to deal with today without thinking of what might happen tomorrow.) I spent several minutes yesterday rereading that scripture and looking up words such as "tomorrow" ... Later in the day, a water line broke at one of the baths at my house. Although there was initial panic, I felt a calmness in knowing just to deal with that and not to think of the possible consequences.
Also earlier in the day, I was dealing with a problem concerning a person. Later I saw that I did not have a problem with that person. I was concerned about a possible future problem. Again, "take no thought for tomorrow" ... When I stopped taking thought for what might happen and did what I saw in this scripture, I felt great freedom.
You can watch me find my food ... and you can watch me prepare my food ... and you can watch me eat my food ... and you can hear me talk about my food ... and you can still starve to death unless you search for your own food and eat that food daily. We eat natural food daily. So we must eat spiritual food daily. If we fail to search for our food and eat our food, we will grow very weak and fail to come into the spiritual blessings that are out there. We must search for and eat daily food to grow strong in the Lord.
I enjoy reading examples given by others but I know the thing that really means most to me is the food I find and the food I eat.
So beware of just watching us without finding and eating your own food!
--------------------
Meditation: Joan Boney
Psalm 1 ... Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
By meditating day and night in scripture, I am like that tree planted by the rivers of water ... I will bring forth fruit in season ... not too early ... not too late ... just on time ...
============
Meditation: Pam Padgett
Psalm 129:2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.
afflicted:
cause pain or suffering
affect or trouble
weaken or knock down
prevailed:
prove to be more powerful
be victorious
As I thought about what has afflicted me ... sometimes affliction is from people, but also thoughts from the devil affect and trouble me, or things such as incorrect doctrines I've been taught
-- doctrines of catholic church I was taught as a child
-- outcast for doing right in sight of God (such as singles, work)
-- coming in contact with those who cause trouble (such as roofer)
-- thoughts from the devil
-- my own flesh's "good ideas"
At times its looked like they were too powerful for me, but the word of God brought by the Holy Spirit in each matter has delivered me and strengthened me in truth
Following fears instead of believing God
Pam Padgett ... teacher
While in the wilderness God instructed Moses to send a man from each tribe to see Canaaan, the land God had promised to the children of Israel. A man from each tribe, including Caleb and Joshua, were sent and found it was a good land ...
Numbers 13:1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. 3 And Moses by the commandment of the Lord sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel. ... 23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. 24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. 25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. 26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
However, the men other than Caleb and Joshua feared the people of Canaan. As a result, these men gave an evil report about the land, spreading fear throughout the people ...
Numbers 13:28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. 30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
The people had experienced the harshness of the Egyptians, and had cried out to God to deliver them from Egypt, which HE did. And God promised to give them the land which had just been seen ...
Exodus 3:7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; 8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Yet now the children of Israel murmured, saying it would be better to go back to Egypt, and even spoke of setting a captain over them to lead them back ...
Numbers 14:1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! 3 And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? 4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
Caleb and Joshua spoke the truth about the land of Canaan ... that it is a good land ... as well as truth about God ... that HE was able to deliver the land into their hands. And they told the people not to rebel against God nor to fear the inhabitants of the land ...
Numbers 14:6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: 7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8 If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 9 Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.
But the people wanted to stone Caleb and Joshua ...
Numbers 14:10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. ....
The people provoked God, not believing that HE would deliver the land of Canaan into their hands though they had seen His wonders in the past ...
Numbers 14:10 ... And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. 11 And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?
God did many signs and wonders among the Egyptians before bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt. Many of these wonders afflicted the Egyptians while not touching the children of Israel. After coming out of Egypt and while the Egyptians pursued them, God parted the sea and allowed the children of Israel to pass over on dry land. Yet when the Egyptians tried to cross the sea, they were drowned. And while in the wilderness, God provided food for the 600,000 men (plus women and children), manna from heaven. These are just some of the signs God had showed to the children of Israel.
Now, rather than believing that God would bring them into the land as HE had said and trusting in the care God had shown for them and HIS power which they had already seen, they feared the inhabitants of Canaan and murmured against God. As a result, those 20 years old and older would not be allowed to enter the land. And God answered the fear of the people that their children would be destroyed by the inhabitants of the land ... promising to bring their children into the land to inhabit it.
Numbers 14:26 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. 28 Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: 29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, 30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. 32 But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.
While in the wilderness God instructed Moses to send a man from each tribe to see Canaaan, the land God had promised to the children of Israel. A man from each tribe, including Caleb and Joshua, were sent and found it was a good land ...
Numbers 13:1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. 3 And Moses by the commandment of the Lord sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel. ... 23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. 24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. 25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. 26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
However, the men other than Caleb and Joshua feared the people of Canaan. As a result, these men gave an evil report about the land, spreading fear throughout the people ...
Numbers 13:28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. 30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
The people had experienced the harshness of the Egyptians, and had cried out to God to deliver them from Egypt, which HE did. And God promised to give them the land which had just been seen ...
Exodus 3:7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; 8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Yet now the children of Israel murmured, saying it would be better to go back to Egypt, and even spoke of setting a captain over them to lead them back ...
Numbers 14:1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! 3 And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? 4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
Caleb and Joshua spoke the truth about the land of Canaan ... that it is a good land ... as well as truth about God ... that HE was able to deliver the land into their hands. And they told the people not to rebel against God nor to fear the inhabitants of the land ...
Numbers 14:6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: 7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8 If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 9 Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.
But the people wanted to stone Caleb and Joshua ...
Numbers 14:10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. ....
The people provoked God, not believing that HE would deliver the land of Canaan into their hands though they had seen His wonders in the past ...
Numbers 14:10 ... And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. 11 And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?
God did many signs and wonders among the Egyptians before bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt. Many of these wonders afflicted the Egyptians while not touching the children of Israel. After coming out of Egypt and while the Egyptians pursued them, God parted the sea and allowed the children of Israel to pass over on dry land. Yet when the Egyptians tried to cross the sea, they were drowned. And while in the wilderness, God provided food for the 600,000 men (plus women and children), manna from heaven. These are just some of the signs God had showed to the children of Israel.
Now, rather than believing that God would bring them into the land as HE had said and trusting in the care God had shown for them and HIS power which they had already seen, they feared the inhabitants of Canaan and murmured against God. As a result, those 20 years old and older would not be allowed to enter the land. And God answered the fear of the people that their children would be destroyed by the inhabitants of the land ... promising to bring their children into the land to inhabit it.
Numbers 14:26 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. 28 Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: 29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, 30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. 32 But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Scripture: Shared by body of Christ
Psalm 77:13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God
as our God? 14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared
thy strength among the people.
Exhortation: (Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet)
Can you think of ways God has shown you HIS strength?
Of course, we read such things as the delivery of the children of Israel from Egypt (Exodus) and see the great strength and power of God on behalf of HIS people and how God puts a difference between HIS people and the world.
Can you think of ways God has shown you HIS power in dealing with issues of this life? This is very helpful and faith building when you think of such.
who is so great a God as our God? All through the Bible we see examples of the greatness of God. I love the story of the ark of God and Dagon, the god of the Philistines.
I Sam. 5 ... And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. 2When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. 3And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. 4And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. 5Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.
6But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. 7And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
Dagon was like some image carved from a tree ... and only the stump was left ... Some human made Dagon and yet they worshiped Dagon as a god although he was created by a human.
And it is interesting that they wanted to get rid of the ark of God because they say that the hand of God was against Dagon their god ... so they wanted Dagon to rule of them ... so they moved the ark of God away.
It was proven to them that Dagon had no power and power was in the ark of God (The Word). But they clung to Dagon and rid themselves of the God of power.
Power is a key. Does that doctrine really have power. Or is it dead?
Exhortation: (Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet)
Can you think of ways God has shown you HIS strength?
Of course, we read such things as the delivery of the children of Israel from Egypt (Exodus) and see the great strength and power of God on behalf of HIS people and how God puts a difference between HIS people and the world.
Can you think of ways God has shown you HIS power in dealing with issues of this life? This is very helpful and faith building when you think of such.
who is so great a God as our God? All through the Bible we see examples of the greatness of God. I love the story of the ark of God and Dagon, the god of the Philistines.
I Sam. 5 ... And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. 2When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. 3And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. 4And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. 5Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.
6But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. 7And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
Dagon was like some image carved from a tree ... and only the stump was left ... Some human made Dagon and yet they worshiped Dagon as a god although he was created by a human.
And it is interesting that they wanted to get rid of the ark of God because they say that the hand of God was against Dagon their god ... so they wanted Dagon to rule of them ... so they moved the ark of God away.
It was proven to them that Dagon had no power and power was in the ark of God (The Word). But they clung to Dagon and rid themselves of the God of power.
Power is a key. Does that doctrine really have power. Or is it dead?
Meditation examples
Meditation in the Word of God: It is so important for each of us to mediate daily in Word of God. If the Holy Spirit brings a scripture to your attention use that scripture and think on it all day long. If you have no scripture, hunt one that interests you. When you find it, think on it. Look up key words in dictionary. Keep it before you throughout the day. You must feed yourself daily. You must seek out the food and eat it and digest it just as you do your natural food if you are to grow strong in the Lord, in the Word, in Jesus.
Meditation: Joan Boney
Mt. 6 ... Take no thought for your life, ... But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
no thought:
- no idea or mental picture, imagined and contemplated ... instead of imagining what may happen, turn to God in prayer with that imagination, asking Him about the issue, trusting HIM to show you if you need to take action now
- no formation of opinions about tomorrow other than what Bible says and God teaches you
- no mental attention of tomorrow ... just prayer
Control your thoughts ... Focus on what Bible says ... Pray when concerned
Each day has its own evil without imagining problems. Just face that day and deal with the area that surfaces by praying.
Seek first HIS righteousness ... what HE wants you to do.
Discipline mind ...
=================
Meditation: Pam Padgett
Psalm 130:5 I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. 6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
When can't see the way to go in a matter, its like looking outside at night. Turn to God and wait ... knowing His word will bring light in the matter like the light of morning ... I can see clearly when I have His word on the matter.
Wait to receive God's word in whatever I'm dealing with. Receiving His word shines light on the way I am to go.
When was dealing with damaged roof, there didn't seem to be a way to move forward with the insurance company ... darkness, like night. Then I heard a word I believe was from God ... tell roofer to submit a supplemental for new roof and for me to send a note to insurance company. This word was light showing the way to go for the matter to be resolved. Even landed up shining light on roofer and the problems he was causing in the matter.
Meditation: Joan Boney
Mt. 6 ... Take no thought for your life, ... But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
no thought:
- no idea or mental picture, imagined and contemplated ... instead of imagining what may happen, turn to God in prayer with that imagination, asking Him about the issue, trusting HIM to show you if you need to take action now
- no formation of opinions about tomorrow other than what Bible says and God teaches you
- no mental attention of tomorrow ... just prayer
Control your thoughts ... Focus on what Bible says ... Pray when concerned
Each day has its own evil without imagining problems. Just face that day and deal with the area that surfaces by praying.
Seek first HIS righteousness ... what HE wants you to do.
Discipline mind ...
=================
Meditation: Pam Padgett
Psalm 130:5 I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. 6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
When can't see the way to go in a matter, its like looking outside at night. Turn to God and wait ... knowing His word will bring light in the matter like the light of morning ... I can see clearly when I have His word on the matter.
Wait to receive God's word in whatever I'm dealing with. Receiving His word shines light on the way I am to go.
When was dealing with damaged roof, there didn't seem to be a way to move forward with the insurance company ... darkness, like night. Then I heard a word I believe was from God ... tell roofer to submit a supplemental for new roof and for me to send a note to insurance company. This word was light showing the way to go for the matter to be resolved. Even landed up shining light on roofer and the problems he was causing in the matter.
Being a witness vs. trying to witness
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Isaiah 43 ... Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. 12I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.
witness means: evidence, proof
We who belong to God are evidence of God's validity. In our existence on this earth we are evidence. We don't try to be evidence. We are evidence.
Here is the difference between being evidence of God's existence and trying to witness.
After I was first born again, in 1975, I was in a lawsuit. A man filed suit against several dealers of American Indian arts in Dallas and charged us of conspiring to keep him from doing business in Dallas. I didn't even know this man. Although it was a ridiculous suit, I realized if I didn't respond in a legal way, judgment would be rendered against me in the US court system. So I hired an attorney. But as the months drug on, the lawyer bills were eating up all the profit from my business. I had gotten out of debt after becoming a Christian and was facing going back into debt over the legal fees. Then I saw the following scripture. Isaiah 54:`17 ... No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
So did this scripture apply to me? I had just been born again. I belonged to God. This scripture should apply to this lawsuit.
Based on this, I contacted my attorney. I explained that the legal fees were eating up my profits and were about to cause me to go into debt. I had decided because of this scripture to go to court without any human legal counsel, thus stopping the legal fees. He was very shocked. He tried to convince me not to do this. But I told him either the Bible is real or it is a history book. And if it is real this law suit would not prosper against me. If it is a history book I wanted no more to do with the Bible. So this was a good time to see.
Several more months passed. The all of a sudden this man dropped all charges. It was over! I thought no more about the suit but did rejoice that it had ended and it was no weapon against me.
A few weeks passed and my former attorney came into my shop. He said they had discussed my case for the past weeks at the law firm and had decided what I said happened, happened. (This was a big law firm in downtown Dallas.)
I was a witness that the Bible is real ... but I wasn't trying to witness to anyone.
An example of a man trying to be a witness ... this happened shortly after I was born again in 1975. I was at a business where you get copies made of documents. This elderly man came up to me and said: "Little lady ... you didn't happen to park behind that green and gold car did you?" I replied, "No sir." He then said, "That's a Baylor (Baptist University) car." I replied, "OK." Then he asked: "You don't happen to be a Christian do you?" I replied in an excited voice: "As matter of fact I am!" He said: "Oh, heck ... I just joined the witnessing class at First Baptist Church and you are the first person I chose to witness to." (He was disappointed that I was a Christian.)
We are not witnessing for a church, as so many people do today. When you think of me, you do not think of a church group. Hopefully when you think of me you think of a person who belongs to God.
Some people try to witness ... Those of us who are of God are witnesses.
Isaiah 43 ... Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. 12I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.
witness means: evidence, proof
We who belong to God are evidence of God's validity. In our existence on this earth we are evidence. We don't try to be evidence. We are evidence.
Here is the difference between being evidence of God's existence and trying to witness.
After I was first born again, in 1975, I was in a lawsuit. A man filed suit against several dealers of American Indian arts in Dallas and charged us of conspiring to keep him from doing business in Dallas. I didn't even know this man. Although it was a ridiculous suit, I realized if I didn't respond in a legal way, judgment would be rendered against me in the US court system. So I hired an attorney. But as the months drug on, the lawyer bills were eating up all the profit from my business. I had gotten out of debt after becoming a Christian and was facing going back into debt over the legal fees. Then I saw the following scripture. Isaiah 54:`17 ... No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
So did this scripture apply to me? I had just been born again. I belonged to God. This scripture should apply to this lawsuit.
Based on this, I contacted my attorney. I explained that the legal fees were eating up my profits and were about to cause me to go into debt. I had decided because of this scripture to go to court without any human legal counsel, thus stopping the legal fees. He was very shocked. He tried to convince me not to do this. But I told him either the Bible is real or it is a history book. And if it is real this law suit would not prosper against me. If it is a history book I wanted no more to do with the Bible. So this was a good time to see.
Several more months passed. The all of a sudden this man dropped all charges. It was over! I thought no more about the suit but did rejoice that it had ended and it was no weapon against me.
A few weeks passed and my former attorney came into my shop. He said they had discussed my case for the past weeks at the law firm and had decided what I said happened, happened. (This was a big law firm in downtown Dallas.)
I was a witness that the Bible is real ... but I wasn't trying to witness to anyone.
An example of a man trying to be a witness ... this happened shortly after I was born again in 1975. I was at a business where you get copies made of documents. This elderly man came up to me and said: "Little lady ... you didn't happen to park behind that green and gold car did you?" I replied, "No sir." He then said, "That's a Baylor (Baptist University) car." I replied, "OK." Then he asked: "You don't happen to be a Christian do you?" I replied in an excited voice: "As matter of fact I am!" He said: "Oh, heck ... I just joined the witnessing class at First Baptist Church and you are the first person I chose to witness to." (He was disappointed that I was a Christian.)
We are not witnessing for a church, as so many people do today. When you think of me, you do not think of a church group. Hopefully when you think of me you think of a person who belongs to God.
Some people try to witness ... Those of us who are of God are witnesses.
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