* For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? (I Cor. 4:7)

It is God who created each of us as HE wills.  One differs from another as we fulfill the will of God and our purpose on this present earth.

And we function as one body when we belong to God and have the Spirit of God.

Paul tells us to stay in the place where we are called by God.

Make your calling and election sure.

We are God workman, created by God, to do HIS will.

But some fill their lives by trying to copy other people instead of being created by God.  And Jude calls them "mockers".  

Jude 17-20  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;  How that they told you there should be mockers  (imitators) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith ...

As the body of Christ we have different purposes, different function in the body.

Know what you are!  Serve in those gifts given you by God.  

*****

* Prayer requests? YOU should pray.

No one knows the circumstances of your problems like you know them.

James 5:16  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

To be "effectual" that prayer must be according to the will of God "for you."

You are the one who must go to God to find out the will of God for you before you pray.

To be "fervent" that prayer must be "red hot".

Most of us cannot be "red hot" concerning a stranger.  We usually just do not experience the torment a stranger is going through.  In your need you are "red hot" over your suffering.  And your faith must be in God, and not in us.

You should pray!

Philippians 4:6-7  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

(You pray directly to God.)

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I John 5:14-15  And this is the confidence that we have in HIM, that, if we ask any thing according to HIS will, HE heareth us:  And if we know that HE hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of HIM.

You pray directly to God!

*****

When a minister prints on his written materials, "Send me your prayer requests"  usually, that minister is hoping you will put some money in the envelope with the prayer request.  In such cases, requests for your prayer requests are fund raising gimmicks.

ABC Primetime Live investigated Robert Tilton at Word  Faith Family Church in Farmers Branch, Texas on November 21, 1991.  (see Robert Tilton, ABC PRIMETIME LIVE, Wikipedia) 

Tilton printed, "Send me your prayer requests," on his published materials and told people to send him their prayer requests on his radio and TV shows.  80-million dollars per year was received according to the ABC News report.  After the expose aired on ABC, offerings fell to 2-million dollars per year, still a lot of money.  Some in his church began trying to sue Tilton for his hundredfold return doctrine. He divorced and ended up marrying 3 times.  His church property was sold to the city of Farmers Branch and was torn down.

I had the same advertising agent as Tilton.  When I refused to ask people to send prayer request, the representative from the Michael Ellison Advertising Agency told me, "Well, you're missing a good bet by not doing this, for when they send prayer requests, they will usually put money into the envelope along with the prayer request."  This was a fund raising scheme.

When the envelopes arrived at Tilton's church, they were forwarded "unopened" to a bank in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where bank employees opened the prayer requests envelopes and removed the money, depositing that money into Tilton's bank account, and they threw the prayer requests into the garbage where ABC investigators found them in dumpsters.

In my opinion, it would be impossible for ministers to adequately pray over individual problems when they received hundreds of prayer requests this way.

This is all very evil.

You, who send prayer requests, are somehow thinking that minister has more power with God than you have.  So your faith is in the prayer of the minister rather than being in faith in God.  And a minister who uses prayer this way does an evil deceptive work.

I do not want you to send prayer request to me.  I tell you in writing on our blog that you should pray. I have never solicited prayer requests during the past 40+ years that I have done ministry work as an apostle/prophet of Jesus Christ according to Ephesians 4:11-12.

You should pray directly to God.

***

A woman in our church group once asked me to help her pick out a lighting fixture for her dinning room.  I agreed to meet her at the lighting store.  Enroute to the store, I prayed:  "God, please help us to find a light fixture immediately so we will not have to go all over town looking for one."

(Phil. 4:6   "Let your requests be made known unto God.")

When we entered the store, I saw a fixture that would work, but I wanted this woman to find her own fixture so I just sat at the desk area and waited as she looked at the fixtures.  

When she returned to the area where I was sitting, I asked, "Well ... did you find a fixture?"

She replied, "No."

I pointed to the fixture I had noticed as we entered the store and I said, "That would work."

She examined the fixture and bought it.

When we left the store, I asked, "Did you pray before we went to that store to look for a light fixture?"

In a very coy way she said, "No ... because I knew you would."

Her faith was in me instead of being in God.

Eventually she was removed from our church group.

Depending on others to pray could end up costing you your faith in God and destroy you spiritually.

*****

* Ministries given to the New Testament church after Jesus arose.

The ministries given by Jesus to the NT church after Jesus arose into heaven are the ministries of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher.  (Eph. 4:11)

Church groups often call their ministers by other names and it is wrong to do this.

In England their pastors are called "vicars".

The Catholics call their ministers by the names of pope, archbishop, cardinal, priests (None of these are found in the NT Bible.)

Sometimes protestant churches will have evangelists, pastors, and teachers but deny apostles and prophets.

But in Ephesians 4, we read of those ministers who are given to the New Testament church and they are as follows:

After Jesus arose into heaven ... "He (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"  (Eph. 4:11-12)

This podcast tells of these ministry offices which are ordained by Jesus for today's church.

*****

* What God says in the Bible about ministers.

 

As I understand the work of a pastor in the New Testament church, he cares for the spiritual development of those persons in his church group.  He teaches scriptures showing the church the way we are to live in the church according to the New Testament Bible.  Usually a pastor cares for one church group in one town, whereas an evangelist might go from city to city speaking to people of this world concerning salvation.  A pastor feeds the sheep of the congregation who are the church.

 

But the following scriptures show us God was not pleased with many of the pastors, or the OT priests who handled the law, or the prophets. 

 

Jeremiah 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew ME not: the pastors also transgressed against ME, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

 

God says: 

 

Jeremiah 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Jeremiah 10:21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

Jeremiah 12:10 Many pastors have destroyed MY vineyard, they have trodden MY portion under foot, they have made MY pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

Jeremiah 22:22 The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.

Jeremiah 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.

When pastor fails to speak the truth, the righteous in the congregation will have to leave, thus being scattered.

Jeremiah 23:2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed MY people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited (judged ) them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.

Pastors should "judge" that which the individuals in the congregation are doing and turn the church to the scriptures to correct their ways when they are not according to the way of God.  Thus pastors "visit" them, seeing their need, whether secular, or their need for correction in their way which they go on this earth.

Jesus sets up the New Testament church from heaven after HIS resurrection:

Ephesians 4:11 And HE (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

A description of the basic work of the ministries appointed by Jesus for the New Testament church:  apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher.

*****

Basic work of the ministries of Jesus for the NT church:

* apostles: are anointed by God to deal with church doctrines and to try to keep churches going in the New Testament rules of God.

* prophets:  are sent by God to the churches and to ministers to bring information and correction to try to turn the church people to God.

* evangelists: are sent by God to the world to preach the way of salvation through Jesus.

* pastors and teachers:  can be one office in the church as a combined "pastor & teacher", or teacher might be separate office for we know the apostle Paul was a teacher but not a pastor.  Basically they feed the sheep with godly messages according to the Bible.

*****

* Peter says, In the last days there will be false teachers in the churches and they will come making merchandise of you.

II Peter 2:1-3   But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Concerning the last days, Jesus warns:

Mt. 24:3-5  And as HE (Jesus) sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto HIM privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

They come to us saying they are pastors or other ministers of Jesus.  Others come saying they are Christians and they say "Jesus is Lord".

And because they say Jesus is the Christ, we will listen to them and they will deceive many.

*****

* Letter to a pastor

In November 2020, a man sent me an email where he identified himself as being a pastor.

After several e-mails, between us, and many corrections given by me through the office of a prophet of God, this man revealed himself as being a beggar, wanting me to give him a computer and projector, and he also showed himself to me as being a thief and extortioner.

But at the time I recorded this "letter" to this pastor, I was still trying to help him in the work which he was doing at a church in the Philippines. 

I separated from him and did not send him this letter, but I believe this recorded letter might benefit some in the church so I have decided to go ahead and present it by this Podcast to you.

Joan Boney

*****

* Beggar, thief, and extortioner.

Both Peter and Jude warned us there would be false teachers among the churches in the end times.  (II Peter 2 & Jude)

Jesus also warned us about the people who come to us in the last days, saying,  "Jesus is Lord."  Because they say HE is Christ, they will deceive many.  (Mt. 24:1-4)

In November, 2020, a man sent me an email identifying himself to me as being a pastor.  

He told me how much he liked my book, Preparing for the Return of Jesus.  (Amazon)

He asked me to send him more books for his church and for his pastors.

I explained that Amazon does not give me books and that he would have to get my books directly from Amazon.

I also explained that Amazon allows us to give free e-books which he would need to order from Amazon.

In his next letter, he signed his name "Reverend".

I responded by telling him no man should call himself "Reverend".

Jesus called HIS ministers as follows:

Ephesians 4:11-12  And HE (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;   For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

There is only one time the word "Reverend" is used in the Bible.

Psalm 111:9 HE (God) sent redemption unto HIS people: HE hath commanded HIS covenant for ever: holy and reverend is HIS (God's) name.

This man responded immediately saying he agreed and he would remove the name "Reverend" and tell his pastors to remove the name "Reverend" and he was sorry he had done this.

But he twisted everything and said we should not use the name "Pastor" either.

I told him immediately that it is proper to use the name "Pastor" for Jesus HIMSELF called HIS ministers by the names:  apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher  (Eph. 4:11)

But not "Reverend".

*****

The next letter he sent to me he signed his name, "Evangelist".

I wrote to him immediately, trying to straighten this out.

I tried to help him see the difference between Evangelist and Pastor in the calling of Jesus.

Evangelist goes from city to city speaking to the world salvation through Jesus.

Pastor usually works with one church group in one city, giving them teachings from the Bible.

***

In his next letter, he signed his name, "Brother in Christ".

In that letter he asked me to pray that God would provide for him a computer and a projector.

He explained that it was very hard to share my teachings with his church group without a projector.

I sent him the following letter.

Matthew 11 Jesus says:  HIS yoke is easy.  So if something is difficult you can know you are trying to do something you should not be doing.

Therefore if it is hard to share my teachings, just share Bible.

Joan Boney

***

In his next email, he asked me to send him a computer and a projector.

I responded:  "If I were you, I would get a part time job or a job at night and work until I had enough money to buy a computer and projector."  Joan Boney

***

He responded that he could not do secular work because it took all his time to do the ministry work.

I thought of the apostle Paul who did secular work as a tentmaker and still went from church to church speaking as an apostle and teacher.

In this letter, he asked me if I would send him a computer that we are not using.

***

I turned to God and asked God:  "What do YOU want me to do?"

I had the answer rather quickly.

I sent email to this man as follows:  

"I see you as a beggar, thief, and extortioner.  And if you choose to go this way you doom yourself to always being a beggar, thief, and an extortioner."  Joan Boney

(It was clear that this man did not turn to God over his needs but turned to humans for them to supply his needs.)

***

The apostle Paul says:

I Corinthians 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

13  put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

This is what I will do with this man.

*****

In this man's first letter to me, he placed an attachment showing an outline of subjects and scriptures which he planned to teach to his church group the next Sunday.

How could a man this confused in thinking write such a clear, concise outline?  I wondered.

Then I realized he probably didn't write that outline.  It was probably another person's outline which he planned to teach to his church group.

*****

This is just one example of how very mixed up preachers are today in church groups.

When a man has no understanding, I do not believe "that man" is from God.

When we have the Spirit of Truth in us, HE will teach us all things, remind us of all that Jesus has said to us, guide us into all truth, and show us things to come.  

John 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16:13   Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

*****

* When oppression comes.

Here is a letter received November 18, 2020, from a woman in Italy. 

 

Dears in Christ,

* Revelation from God concerning the great tribulation.

In the first plague of the great tribulation, 1/3 of the earth will be affected.  Therefore it is possible others on this earth will not recognize this as a part of the great tribulation.  

In the second and third plague of the great tribulation, 1/3 of the earth will also be affected.

But in the fourth plague, all the earth will be affected.

That which the Holy Spirit called to my attention in 2020 is "1/3" ... and we can see how it fits as we look at these scriptures in Revelation which tell of the plagues of the great tribulation that are coming upon this present earth before God destroys this heaven and earth.

*****

Revelation 8

6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; 9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

If the first plague of hail and fire fell on California, Colorado, and the Amazon rain forest, everyone in the world could read on CNN that this happened and not realize this was the first plague of the great tribulation.  And the same could happen with plagues 2 & 3, but when the fourth plague comes and the 1/3 of the sun goes dark everyone will know "something" different has happened to the world.

12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

Reducing the sun for 1/3 of the normal hours could cause great "woes" upon this earth.

Growing seasons would change and plant life affected and things which cannot even be imagined would be by-products of "normal" life as we know it on this earth.

*****

* Before Jesus returns, the powers of heaven will be shaken by God.

Dream from God:   The earth slipped on its axis.  People were terrified.  The governments of men and the scientists and religious leaders were meeting to see what could be done about this.  Nothing could be done for this was from God.  A newscaster was giving a report of this on TV.  He was so frightened that he stopped speaking in the middle of his report and got up and walked out of the studio.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of what would happen at the end of time.  Isaiah 13:13  Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of HIS fierce anger.

This is exactly what I saw in the dream God gave me sometime in the mid-1980's.

Jesus also spoke of this in Matthew 24:29-31.  

29 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:

30 And 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.

31 And 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.

*****

We read, starting in Revelation Chapter 8, of the beginning of the great tribulation that comes from God at the end of this world.

Notice the 4th plague in the following:

Revelation 8

6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;  9And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;  11And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

With the first 3 plagues, notice how they involved a third part of the earth.  Recently this was called to my attention.  These 3 plagues might happen in different parts of this world.  Until verse 12 happens, it might not even be realized that the great tribulation had begun.  

12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

When verse 12 happens, everyone, all people of this earth will know "something" has happened to all this world.  

13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

There are 14 total plagues before the end of this world when God destroys this present heaven and earth by fire.  But after the 4th plague when the sun goes dark for 1/3 of the normal day, and the moon and stars fail to shine for 1/3 part of the day, everyone will know the great tribulation from God has begun.

***

Man fails to repent.

Revelation 9

6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

20  And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Even today, we see ministers who will not repent of those things they speak wrongly, making things up concerning the Bible.  They even admit when confronted that the Bible does not say that which they said, but they have no sorrow for the way they made things up.  And they will not repent over that which they have done.

And their congregations know things are wrong but they stay in their church groups regardless.

2 Thessalonians 2

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

*****

* Is there a difference between the Old Testament "God" and the New Testament "God"?

 Some preachers speak of a difference between the "God" of the Old Testament and the "God" of the New Testament, as if God has changed.

These preachers disregard scriptures such as:

Galatians 6:7-8   Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

II Corinthians 5:9-11    Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;

I Corinthians 6:9-10  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

And in the book of Revelation, we read of that great tribulation, the 14 plagues God will send upon this present earth in the last days before Jesus returns.

Revelation 8

6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;  9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;  11And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

*****

Revelation 9

6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:  21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Matthew 24    Jesus says:  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  22  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

29-31  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:

30 And 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.

31 And 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.

***

Then God destroys the present heavens and the earth:

II Peter 3

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking 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?

13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

***

After we meet Jesus in the air, we are taken to that new heaven and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Revelation 21

1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and HE will dwell with them, and they shall be HIS people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5 And HE that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.

*****

* Winning God's way.

When we are in the midst of a struggle over an issue of this present life, God will often show us what to do by bringing a thought or concept to our mind whereby we can overcome the evil of this present world.  Or God might give us a dream.

Regardless, we always overcome through God, by going HIS way in the situation.

2 Corinthians 2:14  Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.

A businessman defrauded me once concerning a defective television unit.  He would not fix the unit although he said he would do so.  

I kept trying to tune that TV (a plasma) which had wide streaks on the left side of the screen.

One day, as I was trying to adjust the TV, the following came to my mind:  "You don't have to put up with this."

"That's right."  I reasoned.  

And I realized I could afford to replace the TV and just have the unit removed from my house.  (The way of peace in this matter.)  

I bought a new TV that same day and when the installers came to my house to set up the TV, I had installer carry away the defective TV, not wanting to have it in my house to remind me of that bad situation.

When we hear a word from God, we know what to do and we always overcome in the situation by doing what we hear from God, and we rejoice in God who gave us HIS Word on the matter.

Sometimes we win by suffering the loss.

I Corinthians 6:7   Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

 

Consider Joseph:

God left Joseph in prison for 2 full years after he was falsely accused by Potiphar's wife!  

Joseph submitted to the authority and God caused Joseph to prosper even in the prison.

Genesis 39 

20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

These are astounding examples for us!

We could destroy ourselves by the evil they do against us if we puff up and fight that evil in worldly ways and complain and murmur. 

Sometimes we must wait quietly until we hear what God wants us to do in the issue.

*****

* Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine, says the apostle Paul. Work out your own salvation in fear and trembling.

What do we do? as we continue to live on this present earth.

I go by these instructions which Paul gave to Timothy in the New Testament Bible:

I Timothy 4

13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee  ... (the spiritual gift which God has given us for the church)

15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

*****

*  to reading:

The New Testament Bible is filled with letters which the apostle Paul wrote to the church.

I've been re-reading these epistles in a single setting.  Such as reading the entire letter to the Romans.

Then I read the next day the entire first letter to the Corinthians ... then the second letter to the Corinthians ... then the following days, reading the letters: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, etc.

I also focus on some of the meditation scriptures which I have accumulated for these build me up in the faith in God and help me to stay focused.

I read our blog daily:  Jesus Ministries Exhortations 

In my bathroom, I keep one of the ministry books that we have published on Amazon.  (see Joan Boney)

These books are filled with scripture.  I use paperback book for bathroom.  You can start anywhere in any one of the books and be edified in things of God with many scriptures.  I find re-reading these books helpful to me.

Often as I am reading, God will catch my attention on a subject for me to write that subject.  For example, when I began reading I Corinthians 1:1-2  Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:  God got my attention on how we are all called to be saints.

I thought of how the Catholic church appoints certain dead men and women as "saints" and how they teach their people that these dead "saints" have certain powers to help them, which is abominable doctrine for they teach their people to trust in corpses rather than to trust in the living God.

I was stirred up by the Holy Spirit to write an exhortation to the church concerning the subject of "saints" according to the Bible meaning.

***

* to exhortation

To exhort means to urge earnestly by advice and warning.  We are to exhort one another in the faith in God and the Word of God.  For the days are certainly evil and many evil concepts are spoken by humans on TV and in person.

I Timothy 4:7-8   But refuse profane (secular sayings) and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.  8 For 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.

A Catholic woman often visited me at my previous home in Texas.  She spoke many "profane" sayings which were not in the Bible.  I would just look at her and tell her I lived by the Bible and what she just said was not in the Bible.  This is the way I "rejected" her profane sayings.

When you do this, they will usually depart from you and choose not to keep company with you any more.

***

*  to doctrine:

Doctrine is critical for us.  Doctrine are the rules of God from the New Testament church.  We live by doctrines, such as:

* The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (Mt. 5:32)

* Flee fornication:  Every sin that a man doeth is without the body but he who committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.  (I Cor. 6)

* And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.  (I Cor. 7:10-11)

*  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.   And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;  (Rom. 1:26-28)

* Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (I Cor. 6:9-10)

* For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?  (Heb. 10:26-29)

* For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.  (Heb. 6:4-6)

* For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.  (II Peter 2:20-22)

It is critical for us to keep reading these doctrines of Christ for this world and the churches today teach something very different from the New Testament Bible.

***

So I have set myself daily to do that which Paul said to do:  "Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine."

I believe doing this gives me a better opportunity to endure to the end of my time on this earth.

Jesus says:

Matthew 24:12-13   And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

*****

* Our righteousness is by faith that God has spoken to us by HIS Spirit and we follow HIM.

We believe we have heard from God and therefore we do that which God has said to do. 

Thus our righteousness is by faith and because we have faith, we also have works, for faith without works is dead.  

James 2

God speaks to us by His Spirit who brings to our minds thoughts.  Or God gives us a dream.  Or God might give us an instruction by an angel speaking to us, sometimes in the night as we sleep.

By faith, in believing it was God who spoke to us, we follow HIM.

Ephesians 3:20  Now unto HIM that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

The power that works in us is the Holy Spirit of God WHO carries messages to us showing us the will of God in the issues of this present life.  

Incredibly miraculous things happen in our lives as we follow the Spirit of God.

*****

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth.  As we follow HIM, we go in truth of God.

The devil is a liar and there is no truth in him.  So if we follow the thoughts brought by devils, we follow lies.

God leads us by HIS Spirit while the devil will bring thoughts to drive us to do something, usually thoughts filled with fear.

The Holy Spirit is also the comforter, bringing us comfort in the way we are thinking.

Romans 8:14   For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

 

*****

* Who are the "saints", according to the Bible?

The Catholic church calls certain dead people "saints".

But the saints, according to the Bible, are those people who belong to God whether living or dead.  They are not appointed as saints by other men but rather they are the ones who are chosen by God and put into the church by God, having the spirit of God.

We, the church, who belong to God are the saints, according to the New Testament Bible.

Paul says:

II Corinthians 1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

The "saints" are the church.

*****

Use of the word "saints" in some of the New Testament scriptures:

Matthew 27:52  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

Acts 9:13  Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

Acts 9:32   And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

Romans 1:7  To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:27  And HE (The Holy Spirit) that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because HE maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 12:13   Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Romans 15:25    But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

Romans 15:26   For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

Romans 15:31  That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

Romans 16:2  That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

Romans 16:15  Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them

1 Corinthians 14:33   For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

1 Corinthians 16:15   I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

2 Corinthians 9:1  For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

2 Corinthians 9:12  For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

Ephesians 1:1   Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 1:15   Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

Ephesians 3:8   Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

Ephesians 3:18  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

Ephesians 5:3   But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

Ephesians 6:18   Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Colossians 1:2  To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:4  Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

2 Thessalonians 1:10  When HE shall come to be glorified in HIS saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Hebrews 6:10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward HIS name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

(These scriptures show us the use of the word "saints" in the New Testament Bible.)

***

"The Saints" are those in the church who are born again by the Holy Spirit of God and have God living in them by HIS Spirit.

The Catholic church is corrupt in their approach to "honoring" certain people by calling those people "saints".

We, the church, are the "saints".

*****

* Does the doctrine of the church you are attending fit the doctrine of the Bible?

The first church I attended after I was born again was teaching that tongues are of the devil.  

I was reading the Bible and came across the following scripture:  The apostle Paul said:  Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.  (I Cor. 14:39)

What do you do when the doctrine being taught at your church differs from that which you read in the Bible?

We have to choose.  Do we follow our church or do we follow the Bible?  We can't do both.

 

*****

* Concerning divorce and remarriage: Freedom to sin is being taught in many churches today.

 Comments by Joan Boney:

A woman in our church group was divorced and went to a pastor to see if she could remarry after divorce.  

The pastor told her:  "My sister divorced and remarried.  I don't see anything wrong with that." 

A few years ago, the Catholic pope made a televised statement that he didn't see anything wrong about homosexuals.

Neither of these men read the Bible.

So this divorced woman remarried.

A few years later this woman was born again and began reading the Bible.  When I met her and she told me this story, she was really angry at that pastor who told her she could remarry.  By the scriptures she saw she committed adultery when she remarried.

The vast majority of churches today present a freedom to sin by telling the divorced woman she can remarry after divorce.  They ignore what the Bible says and set up another doctrine.  They present to their church groups "another Jesus", another word.

There are several scriptures on this subject of divorce/remarriage and they all agree:

 

*****

I Corinthians 7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

***

Romans 7:1-3  

Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

This scripture is "inspired by God", as are all scriptures.

Paul wrote this to the New Testament Church as a "law of God" for the women.

Yet churches today explained this scripture away by saying we are not under the law in the church today.

This foolishness in handling scripture is despicable and damning to the church. There are many "laws of God" in the New Testament Bible including this law in Romans 7.  If you eliminate this concerning the woman being under the law (rule) of her husband, you have to remove most of the New Testament Bible and even some of the Old Testament for God said:  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.  (Gen. 3:19)

We are not under the Old Testament laws of God concerning sacrifice for sins for Jesus is our sacrifice for sins but that is not the same subject as remarriage after divorce. 

Romans 7:1-3 is a valid rule for women in the New Testament church.  And when we consider the following scriptures on this subject, notice they agree with Romans 7.

 

***

Paul said the following is the commandment for the Lord in the New Testament Church:

I Corinthians 7:10-11   And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

 

*****

Mark 10:6-9  Jesus says:  But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

11 And HE saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

***

Here is one of the most misused scriptures of all twisted teachings in today's church.

Matthew 5:32  Jesus says, in speaking to the men of the church:  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

* If a man divorces a "faithful wife", and that faithful wife remarries, she will commit adultery but her husband will be the cause of her adultery.

* The man who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

But churches are twisting this scripture and teaching the following:  "If a husband is committing fornication, the wife can divorce that husband and remarry."

This is not correct:  The scripture says if the wife is faithful and her husband divorces her and she remarries she will commit adultery. But her husband will be the cause of her adultery upon her remarriage after divorce.  And the man who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

***

If the divorced woman remarries she commits adultery according to the Bible.

Matthew 19  

3 The Pharisees also came unto HIM (to Jesus), tempting HIM, and saying unto HIM, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4 And HE (Jesus) answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Paul explains that at the time of sexual intercourse, the two become one flesh:  Even if a man has sex with a prostitute they become "one flesh".

I Corinthians 6:15-16  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith HE, shall be one flesh.

***

Matthew 19:7-9  They say unto HIM, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

8 HE (Jesus) saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

If the wife is unfaithful, the husband can divorce that unfaithful with and remarry.

But the same is not true for the wife with an unfaithful husband because Paul said in I Corinthians 7:10-11, this is the commandment of the Lord for the woman in the New Testament church.  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:  But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

***

So if you are a divorced woman, according to Bible, you are to remain unmarried or return to your husband.

If the woman's husband is dead, she is free to remarry but only in the Lord.  

I Corinthians 7:39  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

***

These scriptures are "freedom from sin" to those who follow these instructions.

A woman called me once wanting to discuss with me her mother's second marriage.

God said to me:  "Just focus on the scriptures and what they say."

*****

* The sins of Sodom, Sodomites, homosexuals.

In the New Testament Bible in Romans 1:26, God calls homosexual and lesbian acts "vile affections."

In the Old Testament, when a king of the children of Israel removed the Sodomites from the city, that king was said to be a king who did right in the sight of God. (I Kings 22:43-46)

God sent 2 angels to Sodom to destroy the city and all the people except for Lot and his wife and two daughters.  

When homosexuals came from every quarter of Sodom to have sex with the two angels, Lot said to the men of Sodom,   "I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly."  (Gen. 19:7)

The homosexual acts of the men of Sodom were known to be wicked.

And these men of Sodom did not try to hide their homosexual preferences, but they were openly known to be homosexuals, and their wickedness reached God, and God sent the angels to destroy these men and to destroy Sodom and all the people in Sodom.

The angel explained to Lot:

Gen. 19:12-13   And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:

13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.

When the sins become open before all, then the cry "of them" as they flaunt their sin waxes great before God and God deals with their open sins.

Isaiah 3:9   The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

The time of judgment is upon this world.

The Catholic pope announced to the world on October 21,2020, that same sex marriages would be approved in Catholic church when they were performed in civil ceremonies.

The Catholic pope condemns himself and his followers to eternal hell by his approval of sins against God.

And such also is the case of protestant preachers who approve sins of the Bible in their church groups.

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

*****

Revelation 22

Jesus says:

11 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

14 Blessed are they that do HIS commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

***

Romans 1

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

***

They would not repent ... or could not repent:

II Peter 3 

8  But, 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.

9 The 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.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Revelation 2:21  And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

Revelation 9:20  And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

Revelation 16:9   And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give Him glory.

Revelation 16:11  And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

***

Deuteronomy 23:17  There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

*****