Podcast: *** Knowing the deep things of God

 

 

It is the Holy Spirit who knows the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians. 2

12 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.

I've found most church denominations know very little about God for so many of them do not have the Holy Spirit in them.  Even in the so called "spirit filled" churches, the Holy Spirit is often missing.

And while they speak of the Holy Spirit, I've never hear any preacher at any church teach about the work of the Holy Spirit.

Unless you are born again, the apostle Paul says you cannot know the things of God.

1 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.

I speak of some of these things on this Podcast.

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Podcast: *** Watered down church sermons and dead church meetings.

 

 

 

I've often heard individuals speak of watered down messages at church.

The reason this happens is they omit some things because they know the scripture would offend some people.

For example:  This scripture would offend many in the congregation.

Jesus said, to the men in the church,    Matthew 5:32  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 she remarries she commits adultery and her husband who divorced that faithful wife will be the cause of her adultery.

- The man who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.

(I've never heard this scripture spoken at any church group though this is what Jesus said and it is in the NT Bible.)

Also I've never heard the following spoken at any church group although Paul said this is a commandment of the Lord for the NT 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.

(On this Podcast, other NT scriptures I have never heard taught at either the main church service nor at a church Bible class.)

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Podcast: *** When God showed me I was to be a minister I said to God, "What about that which Paul said?"

 

The apostle Paul said, concerning women speaking in the church.  

I Corinthians 14

34 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.

35 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.

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When I asked God, "What about this?"

God said to me,  "Look at that which these women were doing."

I reread the above scripture and I felt they were asking questions during the church meeting and bringing disruption and then Paul said, "And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home."

I've seen women cause disruption at Bible classes with questions ... and once I saw a woman disrupt the pastor at church ...

I will share on this podcast scripture God gave to me on this matter.

I'm in no way in disagreement with what I believe Paul was speaking in I Corinthians 14.

Joan Boney

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Podcast: *** What if you divorced and remarried and then were born again and found you had committed adultery by the second marriage?

 

 

Comments by Joan Boney, apostle & prophet of Jesus Christ:  I will give you on this Podcast that which I believe to be God's ruling on this type of situation.

 

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Podcast: *** Concerning the blood of Jesus, God said to me the following:

 

 

You shed none of your own blood to pay for your sins.  Your sins were paid for by the blood of Jesus which was shed for you.

(exhortation on this podcast)

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Podcast: *** Courage to do the Word of God

 

 

 

Joshua 1:7   Only be thou strong and very courageous,

Be strong in the LORD ... in the Word brought to you by the Holy Spirit.

You must not try to be strong in your own self or in your will power but in that specific word given you by God through HIS Spirit.

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We must not turn to the right nor to the left from that Word God has spoken to us by HIS Spirit.

The devil tried to persuade Eve that God hadn't really spoken those instructions to Adam.

Genesis 3:1-5    Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 

(Did God really say that?  Surely not.  You must have misunderstood.) 

And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 

(Eve added to the Word of God when she said they could not "touch" that tree.  God didn't say that.  Inwardly we can never stand if we add to the Word of God on something for we know we added that and it causes the instruction to be polluted to the point we get to where we really aren't sure.  When we add to what God said, it becomes like leaven, working through the entire word.) 

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

(The devil will always try to stop us from believing what God says.  Thoughts will be brought to try to stop us.) 

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 

(Thoughts come to try to explain away what God said and to try to get us not to go that way.)

 

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When God tells me to do something, I try to do it quickly for I know the longer I wait the more opportunity I will have not to do that which God has said.

The devil will try to snatch the Word God has given me out of my heart and cause me to wonder, "Did God really tell me to do that?"

Then my own flesh will try to reason away the Word given me by God.

Then people watching me will try to get me to go another direction.

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When I was a new Christian in 1975, I had a major test.

A woman had taken me to court concerning my business which I owned at that time.

A word, which I believed to be from God, came to me:  "Don't testify."

I told my lawyer he might not want to represent me for I believed God had told me "Don't testify" in this court case.  (Lawyer said he would represent me even if I didn't testify.)

A woman who worked for me became angry when she heard I was not going to testify.

She had witnessed the situation and planned to testify.  When I was not going to testify, she felt the burden was on her.

I said to her, "What can I do?  I believe God has said to me 'Don't testify.' "

***

The man I was dating at this time tried to get me to testify.  

He said:  "Joan, you aren't doing this girl any favors by not testifying."

I replied:  "I'm not try to do her any favors.  I'm just trying to obey God.  I believe God has told me 'Don't testify.' "

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At the court trial the judge was very shocked when he learned I would not be testifying.

During the trial, my lawyer said to me, "Flo's testimony did not go as well as I thought it would.  If you would testify, I know we would win."

I replied:  "I'll see."

I left the courtroom and went to rest room and began praying:  "What do YOU want me to do."

Immediately I heard, "Don't testify."

I returned to courtroom and shook my head "No".

After all this, I had a down moment and I said to God:  "I hope YOU know what we're doing.  We're going to lose this case."

But we didn't lose the case.  We won.  The judge ruled in my favor and I was acquitted.

Even when all on your own team are against you, you have to be strong enough in that which you believe God has said to you that you hold fast to that word.

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Mark 4:1-8    And HE began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto HIM a great multitude, so that HE entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.  And HE taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in His doctrine,

Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:  But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

13-20   The sower soweth the word.  

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 

(Remember how Satan came to Eve:  "Has God really said that?  That's not so."  Satan comes today to us with his thoughts to try to cause us to doubt.)

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;  And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

(At first when the word comes, they are glad ... but when people begin to scoff at them because of the word or persecute them in other ways, then they are offended and turn from the word God has given them and go in the way of the flesh and devils.)

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

(They received the word and did the word ... bringing forth fruit from that word given them.)

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A man came to me saying he was a pastor.  

He heard what I taught concerning preachers calling themselves "Reverend," exalting themselves above the apostles of the Bible and exalting themselves above the Word of God for no man in the Bible calls himself "Reverend."

This man, 48-years-old, had lived on church property for 30 years.

When he shared this word with his church group, according to his report, the church people became very angry and called him a false teacher and put him out of the church group ... and told him to vacate church property within that week.

He had no income, no money saved, no place to live.

He was married and had a young child.

My concern over him is I didn't think he had a solid basis on how to follow God, which we need in the storms of this present life.

We sent him a laptop computer which was not being used so he could get the teaching on our blog.  

I counseled him to get a secular job as Paul did and preach in his spare time.

I sent him teaching concerning following God by HIS Spirit.

After that I heard no more from him.  I felt by his sudden silence he turned from the teaching I had done which he said he believed.

It is so important to know about the Holy Spirit and how HE leads us and to meditate on those scriptures given us by the Holy Spirit of God that we can be strong enough and have enough courage to hold onto the direction of God.

We build a deep root system in God when we keep the word of God given by the Spirit of God before us day and night, thinking on that instruction ... until we can do that instruction.

This is the power of God for us.

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Joshua 1:7-9    Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

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.

Have not I commanded thee? 

(Isn't it God who commanded us by this word given to us?)

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.

(If God has told us to do this, God will uphold us.  What human is stronger than God?)

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Podcast: *** God who dwells in us makes us alive by HIS Spirit who dwells in us.

Romans 8:11  But if the Spirit of HIM that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, HE that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make alive) your mortal bodies by HIS Spirit that dwelleth in you.

(exhortation on this podcast)

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Podcast: *** Two scriptures given to me by the Holy Spirit at this current point in time.

 

Psalm 84:11  For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will HE withhold from them that walk uprightly.

I Timothy 6:17  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

I will share the exhortation on this Podcast.

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Podcast: *** We suffer with Jesus if we speak and show them Jesus by our Words and by our lives.

Romans 8

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with HIM, that we may be also glorified together.

We suffer in our flesh each time we tell what God is doing and has done giving them the opportunity to believe and see God.  Some will believe to their benefit others will doubt and even despise us for our words, but we suffer with the Word and we will later reign with the Word for our suffering.

Acts 28:28  And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

But we share what God is doing in our life and what God has done in our life, suffering over those words we speak concerning God and Jesus, and allowing God to restore us in all things.

2 Timothy 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with HIM: if we deny HIM, HE also will deny us:

If we love HIM, we speak of HIM, sharing our love of HIM!

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Podcast: *** Jesus says: few find the way of life (Mt. 7:13-14)

 

We who love God follow the Word of God brought to us by the Spirit of God even unto the death of our own flesh.

At the time it hurts our flesh to follow what the Spirit spoke, but in the end we rejoiced greatly, for we then saw how deadly that which the flesh wanted would have been to us!  We thank God that we did not go in the thinking of our flesh. 

The Holy Spirit always shows us God's way.

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Jesus says:

Matthew 7:13-14

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

(Ways of destruction:  Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings (to take great pleasure in such things as drinking, partying with drugs and boisterous living), and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  Galatians 5:19-21)

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

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Podcast: *** These Old Testament examples happened to them as admonitions for us in the church today. ( I Cor. 10:11)

Consider Joseph:

Genesis 39  (Joseph's brothers sold Joseph into slavery and Joseph was taken into Egypt)

And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. 

And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

(Even when Joseph was a slave, God made it possible for Joseph to prosper.  Joseph was a righteous man.)

And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

 
And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

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In times of such temptations, we, who want to go in the way of God, can get great help from God by calling on God in prayer ... asking God to help us and to please stop us from going in way of evil.

I have called on God many times when the temptation was great and God always stopped me when I wanted to be stopped.

Often God, by the Holy Spirit, would remind me of a scripture which gave me strength not to speak or do that which my flesh wanted to speak or do.

Galatians 5:19-21   Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

We who are born again do much harm to ourselves when we walk in the ways of the flesh.

When we follow the Spirit of God we go in the way of righteousness which turns into prosperity and good success for us in the days to come just as the Bible tells us it will do.  Joshua 1 & Psalms 1

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Podcast: *** Help from God in secular matter

As a new Christian, in 1975, I owned a business in American Indian Arts. 

During that time, many fake articles were brought into Dallas by itinerate merchants who rented motel rooms and sold these items at less 50-70 percent. 

The Dallas Morning News asked me to write an article giving people advice concerning the purchase of Indian articles.

Shortly after the warning appeared, one of the itinerate merchants came to Dallas and saw my article and filed a law suit against me and against others claiming we were trying to keep him from doing business in Dallas.

It was difficult for me to take this seriously and I just tossed the legal papers aside ... but then I realized if I failed to respond to the courts, I could lose my business and all my merchandise.

I hired a lawyer to represent me.

God had taught me to get out of debt and to stay out of debt.  (which I had done)

But when the legal fees began coming in regularly, I saw very quickly I was going to be back in debt if I continued going this way.

The Holy Spirit called to my memory the following scripture: 

Isaiah 54:17   No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord.

If this scripture is true, the "weapon" formed against me by that lawsuit could not prosper.

As I thought upon this scripture that was brought to my mind by the Holy Spirit, I realized God was showing me the way to go concerning this lawsuit.

I would dismiss my attorney and go to court without human legal counsel, stopping all the legal fees that were also coming against me.

When I told my plan to my pastor, he said:  "Joan, I perceive that you have faith to do this this way."

My lawyer greatly objected when I told him my plan.

Lawyer said:  "Joan, you can't do this!  You have no idea how evil these courts can be."

My response to lawyer:

"Gordon ... I am a Christian.  The Bible says no weapon formed against me will prosper since I am servant of God ... This lawsuit will not prosper ..."

I dismissed attorney and proceeded with the plan to go to court without human legal counsel.  God brought to my mind several scriptures to give me courage to do this as I planned.  I recorded these scripture on cassette tape and played the tape when I went to bed to get those scripture into me so I would have faith, strength and courage.

About a week after I dismissed the lawyers, Gordon came into my shop.

He had told me the lawsuit would cost me about $10,000 more to try the case.  But now he told me the law firm had decided to try the case for free and there would be no more cost to me.

But what does God want me to do?

I told Gordon I would have to let him know.

I prayed:  What do YOU want me to do about this?"

Immediately God, by the Holy Spirit, brought to my memory the following scripture:

Genesis 14:22-23  Abraham said to 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:

By this, I knew God was telling me not to take the "free" legal service.

I continued with the plan to go to court without human counsel.

God brought to my mind many scriptures which strengthened me in doing this as I thought on those scriptures.

Six days before the trial was scheduled in US District Court, the man dropped all charges against everyone.

The weapon formed against me did not prosper, just as God promised in the Bible.

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Podcast: *** The way God leads us by the Holy Spirit

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 (of the Lord) approaching.

Mark 13  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but MY words shall not pass away. 32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

Luke 12:40  Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Luke 21  And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

(Sounds like what is happening in Israel now. 2023)

Matthew 24  But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 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.

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At this current period of time, I am finding it harder to read Bible and have a fire for scriptures, yet I am continually giving ministry books to neighbors and people I come across and have begun to keep ministry books in the car so I can give such to strangers as I feel led.

Our Classical Music Blog helps to calm me and settle me and I know devils left king Saul when David played skillfully on the harp.  I often listen to this music while reading scriptures.  

I believe some type of spiritual action is currently going on in the air as it did in the book of Daniel.

Daniel 12  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book (of life). 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Although I often find it harder to read the Bible at this period, I am communicating even more with strangers when I go out telling them about God and giving books to them which I am keeping in my car.

I believe something is happening in the air, a type of war between devils and spirits of God.

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As a new Christian in 1975, God showed me many things about how HE leads us today as HIS people in the NT church.

(I find these things written in Bible concerning Holy Spirit are rarely mentioned in NT churches today, yet they are critical teachings to help in the end times.)

Jesus said:

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 (from God), that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.

We see by these two scriptures, the Holy Spirit, who lives in each believer, does the following for the child of God.

- HE teaches us all things
- HE reminds us of the WORD
- HE guides us into all truth
- HE shows us things to come

The Holy Spirit does all this by bringing thoughts to our minds. These thoughts show us the way to go and show us the will of God for us in that exact issue with which we are currently dealing.

The thoughts HE brings can be concepts, both secular and spiritual ... or HE reminds us of scripture which we need to consider at the moment.

God watches over each of us constantly.  God leads us in the way of righteousness and leads us into positions which cause us to prosper and have good success in everything we do.

God does this through HIS Spirit, by showing us what to do by bringing thoughts into our minds to show us.

When we go forward in that shown us by the Spirit, following the concept or scripture given by the Spirit, we go in the will of God for the Spirit of God knows the heart of God and shows us what God thinks about our current situation and what we should do.  I Corinthians 2

There is a problem however.  Sometimes our own desire can overrule the concept shown us by the Spirit and in such cases we end up following what we want and resisting that which is shown us by the Spirit.

Other times the devil enters in by bringing us a way that would end up destroying us.

Therefore the apostle James warns us:

I John 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

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So we must know how to tell if the thought is from God, or if the thought is from our own desire, or if the thought is from devil.  

Then we deliberately choose that shown us by God.

It sounds like we would always choose that shown us by God, but sometimes God will show us to go in a way we do not want to go. (like with Jonah) Then we have to make a decision whether or not we will follow that way which is shown us by God.

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I've been tested a great many times.  Here is an example.

The Holy Spirit called to my attention the following scripture:

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.

I thought on the instruction given in this scripture and began trying to do what it said.  I kept this scripture before me day and night to allow the scripture to grow in me and cause me to do what it says.

During this time, I was visiting with my neighbors at their house.  It was during the USA presidential elections.  I am non political but two candidates that year were of interest to me and apparently this interest had grown in my heart, for I very much wanted to say, "And what do you think of the election?" 

But the Holy Spirit brought to my mind the scripture in 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.

- If I speak about the election, will people be edified in the ways of God? (no)
- Will my words stir up good or evil?  (evil if I ask this as my flesh wants to do)

But amazingly I wanted so very much to speak of this election.

I chose not to speak of this and instead I chose to follow that which the Holy Spirit brought to my mind and I left my neighbor's house without speaking of the election.

But I was really surprised in how strongly my flesh was trying to get me to do what it wanted.

If we feed our flesh it will get stronger.  I suspect I had been watching news reports more than usual and it fed my flesh on this matter.

But my life is very much affected by whether I choose that which the Holy Spirit shows me.

If we are going to move into righteousness, prosperity, and good success ... we are going to have to choose to follow that brought to our minds by the Holy Spirit.  

Often that way causes us to "suffer in the flesh" for our flesh wants to go according to its desire and when we choose to go the way shown us by Holy Spirit, our flesh cannot rule over us and it suffers as a result.

It is easy to see this when we recall how much we wanted to go in ways of the flesh, ways of fornication or adultery or drunkenness or hatred when we were younger.  

Did we follow the flesh and do those things or did we follow the Spirit and refuse to do those things? 

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Podcast: *** The "falling away" in churches in the end time.

 

Another scripture God opened my eyes to see, is II Thessalonians 2. 

The apostle Paul says:

II Thessalonians 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, 

I saw the "falling away" was that the church group would "fall away" from scripture, allowing strange doctrines to take the place of the Bible, opening the door for antichrist, the man of lawlessness, to move into the church.

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God showed me many things about how HE leads us today as HIS people in the NT church.

Jesus said:

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 (from God), that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.

We see by these two scriptures, the Holy Spirit, who lives in each believer, does the following for the child of God.

- HE teaches us all things
- HE reminds us of the WORD
- HE guides us into all truth
- HE shows us things to come

The Holy Spirit does all this by bringing thoughts to our minds. These thoughts show us the way to go and show us the will of God for us in that exact issue with which we are currently dealing.

The thoughts HE brings can be concepts, both secular and spiritual ... or HE reminds us of scripture which we need to consider at the moment.

God watches over each of us constantly.  God leads us in the way of righteousness and leads us into positions which cause us to prosper and have good success in everything we do.

God does this through HIS Spirit, by showing us what to do by bringing thoughts into our minds to show us.

When we go forward in that shown us by the Spirit, following the concept or scripture given by the Spirit, we go in the will of God for the Spirit of God knows the heart of God and shows us what God thinks about our current situation and what we should do.  I Corinthians 2

There is a problem however.  Sometimes our own desire can overrule the concept shown us by the Spirit and in such cases we end up following what we want and resisting that which is shown us by the Spirit.

Other times the devil enters in by bringing us a way that would end up destroying us.

So we must know how to tell if the thought is from God, or if the thought is from our own desire, or if the thought is from devil.  

Then we deliberately choose that shown us by God.

It sounds like we would always choose that shown us by God, but sometimes God will show us to go in a way we do not want to go.  Then we have to make a decision whether or not we will follow that way which is shown us by God.

I've been tested a great many times.  Here is an example.

The Holy Spirit called to my attention the following scripture:

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.

I thought on the instruction given in this scripture and began trying to do what it said.  I kept this scripture before me day and night to allow the scripture to grow in me and cause me to do what it says.

During this time, I was visiting with my neighbors at their house.  It was during the USA presidential elections.  I am non political but two candidates that year were of interest to me and apparently this interest had grown in my heart for I very much wanted to say, "And what do you think of the election?" 

But the Holy Spirit brought to my mind the scripture in 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.

- If I speak about the election, will people be edified in the ways of God?
- Will my words stir up good or evil?

But amazingly I wanted so very much to speak of this election.

I chose not to speak of this and instead I chose to follow that which the Holy Spirit brought to my mind and I left my neighbor's house without speaking of the election.

But I was really surprised in how strongly my flesh was trying to get me to do what it wanted.

If we feed our flesh it will get stronger.  I suspect I had been watching news reports more than usual and it fed my flesh on this matter.

It is also amazing how little this election affected us in USA.  This happened about 20 years ago and I can't see that my life was affected at all by the outcome of that election.

But my life is very much affected by whether I choose that which the Holy Spirit shows me.

If we are going to move into righteousness, prosperity, and good success ... we are going to have to choose to follow that brought to our minds by the Holy Spirit.  

Often that way causes us to "suffer in the flesh" for our flesh wants to go according to its desire and when we choose to go the way shown us by Holy Spirit, our flesh cannot rule over us and it suffers as a result.

It is easy to see this when we recall how much we wanted to go in ways of the flesh, ways of fornication or adultery or drunkenness or hatred when we were younger.  

Did we follow the flesh and do those things or did we follow the Spirit and refuse to do those things? 

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Podcast:*** Following after scripture

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.

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When the Holy Spirit causes our attention to be drawn to a verse of scripture and we think on that verse and on that which we are told to do, and we begin to do what it says, we enter into God's righteousness and HIS way of prosperity and we find good success.

Sometimes we will do that same verse daily for weeks, or months, or years.

This was the case for me when I saw the promise of God in the following scripture and began doing the instruction daily, continually.

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.

I knew that I needed God's wisdom when I read the Bible so I took my Bible and wrote these words over" each chapter:  Pray for God to give you Wisdom

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I was very aware of the great wisdom God had given Solomon.

Also I saw in Proverbs many scriptures about God's wisdom.

Now I have seen a promise that if we ask God for wisdom HE will give it to us!

I really wanted to do this all the time.

So as a new Christian in 1975, I set out daily to get wisdom from God.

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God explained to me many things from the Bible.

In Matthew 24, when the disciples asked Jesus what the sign would be of HIS coming and the end of the world, 

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

At the end-time, before Jesus returns for the church, many would come saying, "Jesus is Lord,"  and because they say "Jesus is Lord", they would be in a position to deceive many.

When I first read this scripture, I thought they were coming saying they are the Christ.  But if they did that we would not listen to them.

If they come to the church saying, "Jesus is Lord,"  they could work their way in among us and could deceive us. 

Jesus was warning us this would happen in the end. 

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Podcast:*** We pray, but then how do we recognize the plan sent by God to us?

 

 

As a new Christian in 1975, God showed me the following scripture to live by:

Matthew 11:28-30   Come unto ME, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take MY yoke upon you, and learn of ME; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For MY yoke is easy, and MY burden is light.

easy:  simple, smooth, straightforward; not overly complicated; not above the price you are able to afford; achieved without great effort; presenting few difficulties.

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I had been living the above scripture for many weeks.  I knew if something was complex and expensive, it would not be the way of God for me.  I would start re-examining the plan if it was going to put me in a financial bind to do that plan.  Always there would be another way to go about accomplishing the goal and the other way would be "easy to do" and "simple."

Another scripture I had been living for weeks:  

Isaiah 55:12    Ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: 

Joy, interest, excitement ... were guides ... provided I could afford the item.

Of course there was always prayer:  Asking God for wisdom.

A promise from God:

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.

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Podcast: ***God gets me out of debt and free from unbeliever

Focus on following one verse at a time ... keep that instruction in your mind and think on it daily until you can do what it says to you, making it a part of your life.

(It sometimes helps to look up definition of key words in a dictionary, viewing the meaning in your life as Holy Spirit reminds you of events or things in your life.)

Joshua 1   

*  Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law (NT scripture), ...  turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

(Of course we do not do the OT sacrifices ... but think of this scripture in terms of that way of God which we are told to do in the New Testament church, following NT diligently.  Also keeping in mind some of the many promises of God from OT.)

The Holy Spirit will get us to focus on specific scripture which shows us the will of God for us at a specific point in time.  Focus on that scripture, doing that which is appropriate in your life to conform yourself to that scripture, for that is exactly what you need at this moment.

 

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Here is an example, especially if you have any debt at all right now.

When I was born again in 1975, one of the early scriptures which showed me the will of God is the following:

Romans 13:8    Owe no man any thing  (I kept that scripture before me daily, day and night, and prayed for God to help me get out of debt.  God did help me.)

I felt God was saying to me:  "Get out of debt ... and stay out of debt."

I stopped buying things on credit.  I bought only those things for which I could pay cash. If I didn't have cash to buy something, I saved money and after I had the cash bought the item, if I still wanted it.

I cut back my spending,  even on  "little things".  Even though it didn't amount to much toward paying the debt, it structured my life in another way of thinking.

(I am always shocked at the amount of money I see people spend on things like iced tea and soft drinks when they go to café.   While I was getting out of debt, this is one way I disciplined myself and cut back.  Certainly today I could afford such but even to this day, the way of life I developed in that period carries over.)

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I had gotten my personal life out of debt within a few weeks.  

But I owned a business at that time and I had borrowed approximately $6000 from a woman who wanted to buy into my business.

I used the money to buy merchandise which I sold in my shop.

This woman was likely an unbeliever, as was I when I began my business and borrowed from her.

But now I am a Christian!

And I saw the following instruction:

II Corinthians 6:14     Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:

My goal became to pay that business loan as quickly as possible, freeing myself from a business partnership with an unbeliever.

A situation came about to cause me to be able to get free from this debt much sooner than I expected.

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My business was American Indian Arts.  I bought authentic jewelry and pottery and offered the items for sale in Dallas, Texas.

I was on a buying trip in New Mexico (USA).

Mostly we sold jewelry in my shop and when I went on buying trips, most of the cash I had was used to pay for jewelry.

However, on this trip something very unusual happened.

An old Navajo rug caught my attention.  (I knew nothing about Navajo rugs.)  I tried to walk away from that rug but I kept coming back to it.  I finally knew I had to buy the rug.  It cost me $500.

I took it to a rug appraiser who told me it was really a very fine rug.  She said I should price it at a price where it would not sell for it would go up in price and I should hold onto it.

At the time she appraised it at $1500.

I returned to Dallas and had that rug rolled up at the side of the room, not on display yet.

A man came to purchase jewelry.  He saw that rug and asked, "What's that?"

I replied:  "It is an old Navajo rug."

"Let me see it,"  he said.

I said, "Oh ... I don't think you'd like that."  I responded.

But he kept insisting so I rolled the rug onto the floor.  

After looking at the rug he said:  "How much?"

Without any thought, I said:  "$5000."

He said:  "I'll take it"  ... and he began writing out a check to pay for the rug.

I was horrified.  I always protected my customers, being sure of the quality of the item and charging a fair market price.

I did all I could to try to talk this man out of buying that rug but he was determined to buy the rug.

I said to him, "I'm not going to cash your check for a week.  If you change your mind, bring the rug back to me and I will give you your check back."

I never saw the man again.

I deposited the check and repaid the woman all the money she had loaned me ... and I was debt free!  And I was no longer yoked to an unbeliever!

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When we see a scripture and purpose in our heart to do that scripture, God makes a way for us to do that scripture.

Romans 13:8   Owe no man anything

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Notice the steps taken by me in being led by God's Spirit.

* Before going on buying trips, I always prayed for wisdom concerning what I should purchase.

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.

I depended on God to lead me by HIS Spirit.  I continually asked God for wisdom.  I believed it would be given me when I asked, for that is what it says in the Bible.

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How does God give me HIS wisdom?

Sometimes God will bring a thought to my mind by the Holy Spirit.  It may be a scripture or a concept.

Sometimes God will get my attention drawn to something and my interest will be such that I can't leave that item behind.  (In the rug case, that is what happened.)  

Human reason often tries to talk us out of what God is trying to show us.

In this case:  "But I need to spend my money on jewelry.  That is what I sell, not rugs.  I don't know anything about rugs."

But I had with me the cash to pay for the rug.  That was very important since I had felt God was leading me to get out of debt and to stay out of debt.

I had absolutely no idea one item would end up allowing me to pay (in full) the woman who had invested in my shop!

I just couldn't walk away from that strong interest I had in that rug.

We can know the ideas that come from God by the following characteristics.

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.

(Don't rush on to the next chapter.  First, stop and study the scriptures and the concepts presented in this writing.  When possible, apply these scripture to your own life doing them in some area.  That causes Christ, the Word, to live in you and becomes a part of your way of life.)

I find most Christians read the Word of God but fail to do the Word of God regularly in their own life.  I am often stopped from going the wrong way by the scripture God brings to my memory.

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