* Concerning people who fight against us as we try to do the will of God.

Mt. 10:32-39   Jesus says:   Whosoever therefore shall confess ME (TheWord) before men, him will I confess also before MY Father which is in heaven.  But whosoever shall deny ME before men, him will I also deny before MY Father which is in heaven.

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

36  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

37 He that loveth father or mother more than ME is not worthy of ME: and he that loveth son or daughter more than ME is not worthy of ME.

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after ME, is not worthy of ME.

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for MY sake shall find it.

But we must be certain it is God who has given us that idea or information for the devil also brings ideas to us and so does our own flesh.

If you are fully persuaded the word you have heard is from God, you must do that word.  But we should not be surprised if our own household tries to stop us.

James 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

*****

John 5:30 Jesus says:   I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Neither can we do anything of our own selves.  We must hear from God by HIS Spirit before we do anything.

*****

* Do your assignment: Work in the place God has given you and God will bless you in "that" land.

God told Isaac to work in the land to which HE had assigned him, and HE would bless him in that land, in that assignment.  (Gen. 26:12)

Recently I was working with a woman in a problem she was having and she had been struggling with for several months.

God brought the following scriptures to my mind which revealed to me the source of her problem:

Joshua 2:8   They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

II Corinthians 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

The solution for her in this problem was for her to focus on doing her own assignment as wife and mother.  She had been thinking of that which others, her husband & daughter, were doing and might be doing, and her mind was troubled by such.  No doubt devils were bringing suggestions to her concerning that which others were doing and that was troubling her.  But devil is a liar so thoughts that were coming to her to trouble her were likely wrong.

What she needed to do was consider the assignment God had given to her and to do that work with all her heart:

* Help meet for her husband.  

Genesis 2

7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into HIS nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there HE put the man whom HE had formed.

18  And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and HE (God) took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made HE a woman, and brought her unto the man.

She should pray often concerning "how she could help her husband" ... preparing meals and having his clothing ready for his work day. Keeping her house clean and orderly.  Keeping an atmosphere conducive to rest and peace. Refusing to focus on "lying vanities" concerning what he might be doing.  Instead doing her job as a wife and mother and busying herself with those activities.

Genesis 3

16 Unto the woman HE (God) 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.

And I said to her:  "Your husband cannot understand spiritual things because he is not born again ...

so make him a chocolate pie."

She burst out laughing.

I Corinthians 2:14   But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

And she needs to care for her 5 adult aged children and live a godly life in front of all persons.

When she does these things, fulfilling the assignment given to her by God, she will be blessed by God and she will be a blessing to all others who come across her path.

*****

Also please listen to the following Podcast, click here:  Roles ordained by God for men and women, as shown by Bible )

*****

* Promises of God to us when we do those scriptures which HE gives us.

When we meditate on those scriptures brought to our attention by the Holy Spirit and we do those instructions, we have a promise from God that we will prosper and have good success in all that we do on this earth.

Joshua 1:8   God says:  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Psalm 1:1-3   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.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in HIS law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And 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.

*****

Example:

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

***

Philippians 2:5-7  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made Himself of no reputation,

***

And the following two scriptures have greatly influenced me even unto the present day:

Hebrews 3:13-14  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

Exhort: to urge earnestly by advice or warning

Hebrews 10:25 ... exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  

*****

* Approved by man or approved by God.

From heaven, Jesus calls HIS ministers to work in the church:   

Eph. 4:8;11-12  When HE (Jesus) ascended up on high, HE led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men... And HE 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:

When a minister is called by Jesus from heaven, for the NT church, God teaches that minister by HIS Spirit, by the Holy Spirit.

I John 2:27-28   But the anointing which ye have received of HIM abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in HIM.  And now, little children, abide in HIM; that, when HE shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before HIM at HIS coming.

Since I have been on internet, blog & podcasts, I have received multiple emails from men around the world who say they are pastors and they want me to be their "mentor".

But ministers are called by Jesus to be ministers and taught by Jesus what to do and what to say.

If a minister needs a human to supervise him, that man might not be called by God for the ministry.  

Galatians 1:10-12  Paul says:   For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of (by) me is not after man. For I neither received it of (from) man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

I find many ministers do not know what ministry office they are called to do: apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher.

These men are not likely called by Jesus to be ministers but they somehow try to put themselves into the ministry.  

Jude describes it as follows:

Jude: vv. 17-19 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 (copiers) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

Peter also warned us:

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.

Many ministers today are not called by God nor taught by the Holy Spirit of God.  They just put themselves into the ministry by going to a Bible College or by copying other men who do ministry work.

And Jesus said this concerning the end times.

Matthew 24:4-5  Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

*****

Ministry of apostle:  works with church doctrine, causing individuals to set their doctrines by New Testament Bible.  (Acts 15)

Ministry of prophet:  brings correction and instruction to the church to help individuals to get free from traps and to help them to stay free.  (Hosea 12:13)

*****

* Keeping those scriptures before us which God gives to us by HIS Spirit:

God brings scriptures to our attention to encourage us.  

When this happens, those scriptures are chosen by God for us to fit our need.  

For example:

In Pam Padgett's more recent need, God gave her this scripture:  Psa. 32:8  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.

In my most recent need, God gave me:  Romans 1:16-17  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

It is important to collect the scriptures which God brings to our mind and  keep them before us day and night (for a season) to strengthen us and encourage us in our assignments. 

As individuals, our needs at this point in time differ, but God fills those needs in our lives by calling to our attention scriptures or dreams which we need to keep before us.

I will share with you a few of my personal collection of scriptures which I keep on my Kindle photo album for easy access.  

I usually go over these scriptures daily to help me in the faith and to strengthen me in the assignment God has given me while HE keeps me on this present earth.

This may shock you, but I find it even harder today to keep the faith and do the work of God than it was 40 years ago.  

I believe this means the sins of people and the attack of devils has increased because we draw closer to the return of Jesus.  (See: Rev. 12:11-13)

Therefore I find that I need to do even more meditating in scriptures, for the time of Jesus' return draws nearer.

Joan Boney

*****

As we encounter problems of this life, to put a spotlight on the problem we are having and to strengthen us to be able to overcome in the situation, God may give us a scripture or a dream to show us what to do.

***

In February 2021, some disturbing thoughts came to my mind in the form of "what if?" ... Instantly God brought the following to my mind:

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  (by the Word HE gives you)

I said:  "That's right!"

If a "need" arises, God will bring me a "WORD" to show me what to do and that need will vanish when I do that Word.

I added that scripture to a list of scriptures which God has brought to my mind in the past so I can be encouraged as I live on this present earth and go forward.

Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

***

In 1975, I owned a small business and a man filed a law suit against me.  I hired a lawyer.  But the bills for the legal services began coming in weekly and it was taking most of the profits from my business to pay those bills.

One day, God brought the following scripture to my attention:

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.

I began to reason this scripture:   I am now a Christian so this promise applies to me.  Therefore the weapon of this lawsuit cannot prosper against me.  I can dismiss my lawyer and go to court without any human legal counsel, eliminating the financial drain coming upon my business.  I dismissed my lawyer based on what this scripture said to me.  I planned to go to court with out humal legal counsel.  Six days before the trial, the man dropped all charges and there was no court case.

I keep this scripture in my mediation scriptures to remind me and encourage me as I go forward.

***

When I was a new Christian, God called to my attention several scriptures showing me what the Holy Spirit of God would do for me.

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.

I Corinthians 2  

6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love HIM.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by HIS Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

I owned a small business in American Indian arts at that time and I began to live by that which God showed me by HIS Spirit.

Before I would go to buy merchandise, I would pray for the artist to make the items I needed.  When I saw the art objects, I prayed for God to show me what to buy.  As I returned to my shop, I prayed for God to send out the angels to bring the customers into my shop to buy the art objects.

In the 4 years I operated that business, every item sold.  I never had a special sale.  The items just sold.

***

As a new Christian, God called my attention to the following scripture:

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

At the same time, I was reading about wisdom given to Solomon and I read many scriptures in Proverbs which encourage us to seek wisdom.

When I saw this, I wrote in my Bible, above each chapter, "Pray for wisdom."  For I knew I needed God's wisdom to understand scripture.

I John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of HIM abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in HIM.

God teaches us by the Holy Spirit who lives in us and reminds us of scripture and concepts.

*****

* Sometimes we misinterpret a scripture, or a dream, and we end up in bondage never intended by God.

After I was born again in 1975, by God speaking a word to me by His Spirit.

About two weeks later, in the night while I was sleeping, I was "transported" into heaven and was merged into the body of Christ, made one with the Word of God, God and Holy Spirit witnessing.  (I saw no physical images it was a spiritual experience.)

A few nights later, the exact same thing happened to me a second time.

What did this mean?

Later I came to believe at this time I was ordained to be a minister of Jesus in two offices as apostle and prophet.

But how can I do this being a woman?

The apostle Paul said:  

I Corinthians 14:34-35   Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

The Spirit of God said to me:  "Look at what these women were doing?"

When I reread the scripture, I realized these women were asking questions during the church gathering and were thereby interrupting the service.  Paul was stopping them.  

The Spirit of God then reminded me that Philip had 4 daughters who did prophesy.  Acts 21:9

Prophecy is for the church so these daughters would have to speak to the church to prophesy.

By these things, God persuaded me to do the work to which I am called, exhorting the church as an apostle/prophet.

I completely agree with Paul that women must be kept under control.  I've witnessed women taking over in the church and stopping the flow of the Spirit of God.  I would stop them also.

But when a woman has a Word from God she should be free to speak that Word from God to the church gathering that all may be edified in the church.

*****

Also God reminded me of Deborah. She was a prophet in OT.  She was married.  She judged Israel.  She even told the captain of the army to go to war.

Judges 4:4-5  And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

6-7 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.

8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

9 And she said, I will surely go with thee:

This example of Deborah and the way God used Deborah for the children of Israel shows us that God does as HE wills with women in the church.

***

I love scripture.  But I also know sometimes humans misuse scripture and they bind themselves by scriptures in ways God never intended.

We must take scripture to God and ask HIM to give us wisdom about those verses and allow God to interpret scripture to us.

Once God gave me something to say to the church and I said to God, "If I say that, they will not understand and they will misinterpret what I am saying."

God said, "They misunderstood what Paul said didn't they?"

Peter said this concerning them misunderstanding what Paul wrote to them:

II Peter 3:15-16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

(Those who have the Spirit will understand but the others will not understand.  For the sake of those who have the Spirit, we speak, and we suffer the persecution from the others.)

If we are led by God and HIS Spirit we will understand as one and be united by HIS Spirit.

Ephesians 4

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

But many try to understand with their natural mind and they end up setting up other denominations.

*****

* Roles ordained by God for men and for women, as shown us by Bible.

 

 The Bible teaches us so much about God's plan concerning men and women and the way God created men and women.  The world tries to make everything the same, same opportunities, even same roles.  

It is difficult to enter into our assignment from God and to understand the way God created us unless we view some scriptures on this subject.

God ordained the following:

Genesis 2:7-8   And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there HE put the man whom HE had formed.

18  And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and HE (God) took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made HE a woman, and brought her unto the man.

***

God created the woman to be an helper to the man.

Some women will not marry.  Some women will be assigned other roles by God.  

But most women will marry and when they do marry, God has created them especially for that man to be his help meet.

***

Eve was deceived by Satan and after the transgression, God put the following assignment on the man and the woman and there was a difference in the role of the man and the woman.

For the man:

Genesis 3

17 -19 And unto Adam HE (God) said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

For the woman:

Genesis 3

16 Unto the woman HE (God) 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.

(Already we see that God has created the woman for the man so she would be a help meet to the man.)

***

So we go forth perfectly created and joined by God.

But men and women change the creation in their own wisdom and things fall apart.

As long as we accept our assignments, God blesses us in that to which HE has assigned to us. 

And as long as we do what God wants us to do we are blessed and we bless others by our lives, whether we marry or whether we are single.

God said to Isaac:  Genesis 26:3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee;

*****

Mark 10   Jesus says:

6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

***

Divorce was created because of the hardness of the heart:

Mark 10

2 And the Pharisees came to HIM (to Jesus) , and asked HIM, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting HIM.

3 And HE answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

***

Matthew 5:32   Jesus said:

But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

* Woman who remarries after divorce commits adultery.

* Man who divorces a faithful wife will be the cause of her adultery if she remarries.

* Man who marries divorced woman commits adultery.

***

Deborah, a married woman who judged Israel.

Judges 4

4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.

8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

9 And she said, I will surely go with thee:

(So there are times God uses a woman for multiple purposes.)

***

Women often want to fulfill themselves.

My mother wanted to be a teacher.  My dad did not want my mother to work outside the home.  So my mother did not try to get a job outside the home.  My dad wanted my mother to stay at home and take care of me and the house.

Pam Padgett's younger sister had 4 children.  This sister wanted to be fulfilled and she wanted to work in a day care center.  She convinced her parents to buy the day care center for her.  Her husband was against her working outside the home and he wanted her to stay at home and take care of their children.  But she got the day care center.  She and her husband ended up in divorce.

Today so much is upside down and opposite to that set forth in Bible.

Things are getting worse and they grow farther away from Bible.

***

Some women will not marry and they will have other assignments from God.

I Corinthians 7  

26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

27  Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

38 So then he that giveth in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth not in marriage doeth better.

***

Most people will marry and here are very important instructions concerning those who marry.

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.

12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

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.

40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

***

When we choose to follow that which is ordained by God for us and we see and do, by following the Spirit, in that which is set forth in the New Testament Bible, we greatly bless ourselves and others.

It is good to focus on these scriptures concerning marriage, divorce, remarriage and remaining single.

*****

* Living godly lives by the Spirit of God, not by letter of the law.

I'm very fortunate because I've had a godly aunt in my life and I've had an opportunity to see a person who was not fearful but joyous.  And she was content to be in her assignment as assigned by God and she worked there!  She radiated joy in God.  God was never a burden to her but was a joy.  She didn't have to try to be an example of a godly person for she was a godly person.

A truly godly person who is led by the Spirit of God is not a fearful person for he knows God will always be with him and help him to make godly choices.  

He doesn't have to be godly by himself but HE has the Spirit of God in him to show him what to do and the Spirit will always lead in that which is right in the sight of God.

The people who try to live by the letter of the law are ridged and always afraid.

Yet we, who follow the Spirit, uphold the law by the Spirit, for the Holy Spirit is Holy and will not present a way to us that is opposite to scripture or contrary to that which God wants us to do.

We are as Paul said in the following:  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;  Holding forth the word of life;  (Phil. 2:15-16)

We, who live by the Spirit, are free from sins, for we follow the Spirit who leads us in the way of God, and we are joyous, thankful to God that we have another way to live on this earth.

We are a blessing to all who come across our path!

Importantly, we know our assignment from God as we live on this present earth and we get our instruction from God and we follow HIM and we remain steadfast in that which God gives us to do.

In this Podcast, I will try to show examples of persons who live by the Spirit of God and how different they are from church goers who are living by the letter of the law.

*****

My aunt married a man she did not love.  As a type of rebellious teenager in approximately 1915, she loved a young man but something happened and out of spite she married another "boy".

The man she married was physically rough.  When we visited them when I was a child, he would "hug" me when we arrived at their house, but the grip of his hand on my arm hurt.  And he was a man filled with fear.

Somewhere along her life, my aunt became born again and was even transported into heaven and she said it was all golden there.

My aunt was wonderful at cooking and cleaning and sewing!  She had a great joy in her as she helped her husband and family and others.  That joy radiated!

During part of her life she was postmistress in their rural village in Arkansas.  Later she worked as a clerk in a department store in the dress shop area.  She put her whole heart into that which she did and worked in joy.

I didn't hear her mention God but everyone knew she was a godly woman.

And she loved people and did all she could to help them, even strangers.

She had the Spirit of God in her and she followed the Spirit of God although she attended the Church of Christ denomination which even removed some of the Bible references to the "Holy Ghost".

Before she died, I was born again, and we spoke often of things of God.  She was never afraid of me.

She told me she knew some things were wrong at "the church".

Mostly when I was with her after I was born again, we spoke of scripture.

When I think of Proverbs 31, I think of this aunt.

She once said to me, "I always knew you would never do anything wrong."

(I did lots of things wrong but she must have seen me by faith.)

***

Amazingly her daughter was just opposite.  She attended Church of Christ and was always afraid that someone would do something wrong.  I doubt she was born again.  She tried to live by the letter of the law, so far as I can tell.  She was the most fear filled person I've ever seen.  And even after I was born again she fought me greatly.  I don't think she knew what it was to be born again.  She seemed to think that we humans did things of Bible by our own will.

She once said to me, "Well ... I believe you are a Christian ... I just don't see how you can be!"

(I just laughed, for I was pretty sure she was not born again though she always attended church and her husband was a leader in their church group.)

Being born again and following the Spirit of God is often bewildering to church goers.

II Corinthians 3:6   (God) Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

*****

We who are godly keep ourselves in the love of God.

And we are joyous and extremely hopeful for we truly know God.  We don't try to be joyful.  We are joyful for our experience with God is joy.

Yet we obey God by HIS Spirit as HE shows us scripture and we allow God to re-create us in the image of that verse of scripture as we apply that scripture to our lives.

We follow God by HIS Spirit doing scripture with great joy knowing scripture is freedom from sin for us.

*****

* They who observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. (Jonah 2:8)

Thoughts come to our minds.

Sometimes thoughts are from desires of our own flesh.  Often these desires are fleshly and not the best thing for us to do.

Proverbs 14:12   There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Other times the devil brings thoughts to trouble us and the intent of devil is to destroy those who will allow him to do so and he destroys with the thoughts that he brings.

Devil is always a liar and there is no truth in the thoughts he brings to our mind.  Devil's purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy.  He comes as a roaring lion with the purpose of destruction.  Therefore devil bombards the humans with thoughts which are not true because devil is a liar, says Jesus, and there is no truth in him.   (John 8:44)

When we belong to God, the Holy Spirit of God brings thoughts to our mind, and these thoughts are always the way God wants us to go.

So we have to know which thoughts are from God, which thoughts are from our own flesh, and which thoughts are from devils.

Paul says:

II Cor. 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

James 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

We, who are of God, turn to God and establish truth from God, and when devil comes after us with another vanity, we cling to what God has shown us about the matter at hand.

*****

Please listen to the following podcast if you need additional information:

Dealing with destructive thoughts:  (Please click here to listen to podcast.)

 

*****

* The Lord's Supper: How do we eat the flesh of Jesus and drink HIS blood?

Jesus says:  Whoso eateth MY flesh, and drinketh MY blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (Jn. 6:54)

How do we eat the flesh of Jesus and drink HIS blood?

Jesus is "THE WORD".  Each time we eat the Word and make it a part of our lives on this earth by doing The Word, HE, Jesus lives in us.

This is the communion with God.  This is the way we partake of the Lord's Supper.  We eat The Word, doing The Word.

This causes us to live in Jesus.

*****

John 6  (Jesus says)

33  For the bread of God is HE which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to ME shall never hunger; and he that believeth on ME shall never thirst.

48  I (The Word) am that bread of life.

51  I 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.

54  Whoso eateth MY flesh, and drinketh MY blood (The Word), hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

55  For MY flesh is meat indeed, and MY blood is drink indeed.

56 He that eateth MY flesh, and drinketh MY blood, dwelleth in ME, and I in him.

(As we eat "The Word" that is given to us by God by the Holy Spirit, and as we live that Word in our daily lives, we live in HIM, in Jesus, The Word.)

57 As the living Father hath sent ME, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth ME, even he shall live by ME.

***

John 14:6  (Jesus says)  I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

THE Word, given us by the Holy Spirit, is the way to go.  The Word is truth and life.  The Word is Jesus.

***

John 1

1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by HIM; and without HIM was not any thing made that was made.

4 In HIM was life; and the life was the light of men.

***

Matthew 7  (Jesus says)

21 Not every one that saith unto ME, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of MY Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to ME in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in THY name? and in THY name have cast out devils? and in THY name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from ME, ye that work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of MINE, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of MINE, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

*****

* Love toward the Word of God.

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

We really love the Word of God.

Philippians 2

12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

16 Holding forth the word of life;

The world grows darker but that light in us is very bright and we do not hide the light that is in us.  We are different for God has created us by HIS word and that causes us to be opposite from this world.

It is very exciting for us to be on this earth for we are as lights as we hold forth the word of life.

*****

* Without hearing from God we can do nothing and we know nothing. (Jn. 5:30)

Jesus said:  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.   (Jn. 5:30)

How do we know the will of God?

As the Holy Spirit who dwells in us reminds us of scripture or shows us a concept, we know the will of God.

As Jesus always heard from God, so we do also by the Spirit of God who reminds us of scripture or brings us truth or a concept.

People want to be right and to be seen as being right.  

But we can only be right as we are following that which God shows us to do.

Mt. 7  Jesus says:

21 Not every one that saith unto ME, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of MY Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to ME in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from ME, ye that work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

*****

* Covetousness comes by comparing yourself with others.

I became interested in the word "covetousness" and looked this up in dictionary and saw a revealing definition showing that which causes covetousness:

"covetousness:  eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth or possessions.  Social media so often encourages us to compare ourselves to others, inspiring covetousness and insecurity."

And I recalled the following scripture:

II Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

***

Hebrews 13:5   Let your conversation (manner of life) be without covetousness;

***

After God put me on radio in 1980, a woman at our church group said to me, "I want to be like you.  I want to do what you do".

I was surprised and responded, "You do?"  (I just couldn't imagine anyone wanting to do that which God had me doing.)

Later another woman in church said to me, "I don't see how I can compete with you who have been taken into heaven twice."

In the body of Christ, we should not be trying to "compete" with other persons but rather we should follow those scriptures brought to our attention by God and allow God to form us as HE wills in the body of Christ.

We are recreated over and over by examining those scriptures given us by God and by following HIM through doing those scriptures, thus being continually formed by God into the image of Christ.

***

Young people in school often want to be like other people or have that which other people have.

I do see this as "unwise", as the apostle Paul said to us.

But until now, I had not seen it as the root of "covetousness".

Covetousness is one of the serious sins of the flesh.

I Corinthians 5:11;13 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... put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

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.

***

Our goal should be to follow God as HE works through our life and therefore be recreated by God in HIS image, doing what HE tells us to do, being satisfied in the way HE recreates us.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Philippians 2:13   For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of HIS good pleasure.

I Corinthians 4:7 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?

***

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation (manner of life) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for HE hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Let us do that which God has enabled us to do, always knowing it is God who made it possible for us to do that which we do.  

Each of us are totally unique when we follow God and indispensable as an integral part of the body of Christ working as a specific part in the body as created by God.

*****

* My God shall supply all your need.

There are many types of needs:  

money, 

jobs, 

information concerning what to do, 

encouragement in following God

Regardless of our need, God is our supply and source when we belong to HIM.

The king of Sodom offered to bless Abraham, but Abraham declined and said:  

I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,  That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:  (Gen. 14:22-23)

Abraham purposed in his heart that he wanted his provision to come from God and not from man.

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

Deut:28:1-2  And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all HIS commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:  And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

Like Abraham, Moses refused the blessings that man could give to him and chose God for HIS source.

Hebrews 11:24-27   By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing HIM who is invisible.

We are greatly blessed when we choose to make God our source, HIM who is invisible, rather than making man our source on this earth.

*****

I am 83-years-old.  I can only walk a few steps with a walker.  One of our church members took me into her home to live and she helps me.  Recently she failed to come to my room to give me my medicine.  This was very unusual.  Had she fallen on the stairs?  Was she lying there helpless?  How will I get the animals fed? (2 dogs and 3 cats)  What if she has to go to hospital?  Thoughts were raging in my mind.

I began praying and instantly I heard this from the Holy Spirit:  "My God will supply all your need."

It was like having a great weight lift from my body.

I needed information and help and God supplied it at that moment by HIS Word which was brought to my mind and I relaxed, believing that word.

***

In 1975, I owned a small business.  A man filed a law suit against me.  I hired lawyers to defend me in court.  But the legal fees were eating up all the profit from my little business.  What to do?  I needed wisdom.

My attention was drawn to the following promise of God to HIS people.

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.

I began reasoning this scripture:

I'm a Christian now so this promise applies to me.  This law suit is a weapon against me.  The legal fees are a weapon against me.  These weapons against me shall not prosper.  I will dismiss my lawyer and stop the legal fees and go to court without any human legal counsel.

When I released my attorney, he said:  "Joan ... you can't do this.  You don't realize how evil these courts are today.  We are willing to work with you.  It will only cost about $10,000 more to try your case."

$10,000 MORE ... I cried out, "Gordon ... stop ... don't do anything else!"

The following week, Gordon came back to my shop.  He said, "Joan ... we have decided we will try your case without any additional legal fees."

What is going on here?  One week it is going to cost $10,000 more and now it is free?  I didn't hear Gordon mention God in this.

So I replied,  "I'll have to get back with you on this."

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

I was reminded of a scripture to show me what to do:  Abraham said to the king of Sodom:  "I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,  That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:"  (Gen. 14:22-23)

I knew God was showing me to turn down the "free" legal service.

Several weeks passed.  Fear came in waves in forms of thoughts.  But with each fearful thought, God would remind me of a scripture to settle me.

I recorded all these scriptures on a cassette tape and played the tape when I went to bed each night.  When I awoke in the night, I turned the tape over and began playing it again.

Six days before we were to go to trial, the man dropped all charges against me.

Later my lawyer came back to my shop.  He said, "I want you to know that we have discussed your case at the law firm and we believe what you said happened actually happened."

*****

* Building your house on the Word from God.

Mt. 7   Jesus says:

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

I was born again in 1975, and I began collecting scripture and doing those scriptures, living by those scriptures, for the next 40+ years.

* Romans 13    

8 Owe no man any thing

* Deuteronomy 28

1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all HIS commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto Himself, as HE hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in HIS ways.

12 The LORD shall open unto thee HIS good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in HIS season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

As we read the Bible and take scriptures and do those scriptures and continue to do those scriptures, that Word lives in us and rises up to guide our path as we walk on this earth and to keep us from going in the destruction of this present world.

We build our house on the word of God as we hear that word and do that word, setting aside all other ways.

*****

Other scriptures I learned to live by:

* Joshua 1

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

***

* Psalm 1

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.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in HIS law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And 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.

***

* James 1

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

***

* Philippians 4

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

***

* I Timothy 4

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

***

* Hebrews 3

13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

exhort:  urge earnestly by advice and warning

***

* Hebrews 10

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

***

* Ephesians 4

29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

***

* Joshua 1

9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Wasn't it God who told me this?

***

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.

My righteousness is of God because it was God who showed me to do this and to say this.

***

Romans 12

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

In each of the above scripture, there are things for us to do and to keep doing!

***

Believe in the Holy Spirit leading us:

* John 14   Jesus says:

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.

* I Corinthians 2

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

***

These scriptures are the foundations upon which I built my life.

And there are many other scriptures also which I added through the trials of this present life as the Holy Spirit brought those scriptures to my attention.

As long as we live on this earth God brings us The Word to show us what to do and to encourage us in HIS way.

Isaiah 26

3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.

4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

*****