* One says, "I'm Baptist." Another says, "I'm Methodist." Paul says they are carnal and divide the body of Christ. (I Cor. 3)

People think they witness to God when they tell the name of the church they attend.  But when a person does this, he shows he is carnal and he brings division to the body of Christ according to the apostle Paul. 

 

I Cor. 3:1-4  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 

 

If we speak of God, we should speak of that which God has done with us or of that which God has said to us.  

(They don't do that!  They speak of their church and love to tell where they go to church.  They think they witness to God when really they are promoting their church group.)

If we feel we have to identify ourselves, we should just say, "I am a Christian." 

 

Ephesians 4:3-6    

 

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

 

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.

 

*****

* Our bodies are the temple of God housing the Word of God in the New Testament church. We must carefully create this temple!

 

I Corinthians 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

From the time we are born again we carefully construct ourselves as the temple of God which houses the Word of God.  We cover ourselves continually, day by day, with pure gold of the Word of the New Testament, living that Word on this earth.

As the apostle Paul says, we present our bodies a living sacrifice, " holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."  (Romans 12:1)

In the Old Testament, God was very specific about the building of the ark which would house the Word of God.  (Ex. 25-27) 

 

How much more careful should we be about the construction of "the temple" (ourselves) which houses the Word of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit today?

I Corinthians 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

 

In this Podcast, we will look at the directions God gave in building the ark of the tabernacle in the Old Testament and consider how we must go forward in God as "HIS temple" housing all that is holy for the New Testament church today and for the world.

 

*****

* Thorns in your sides and pricks in your eyes.

 

Numbers 33:55  But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. 

 

I have found this to be true, that they are thorns and thistles, and I have learned to do this very quickly when I recognize people that have to be continually corrected by me.  

When a person has the Holy Spirit in him he does not have to be corrected continually by us.

But without the Holy Spirit to lead him, we have to lead him and that will end up pulling both of us down.

Recently a man, who said he was a pastor, kept doing and saying things that were not scriptural, and I corrected him, and he twisted the correction, and I corrected him, and he twisted that correction.   

 

II Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Finally I told him I would not read any more of his e-mails.

One woman was with our church group for 39-years.  I had to correct her almost every time I spoke with her.  God removed her.

In the end times, these people who are ever learning but unable to come to the truth will be rampant and Paul calls this "perilous times."

II Timothy 3

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned ;  (We know it is God who taught us the spiritual things we know.)

The main problem I see with these deceivers is this:  They appear to be learning as we share with them but they are always off for they try to understand spiritual things with their natural mind.

I Corinthaians 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.

Learn to walk away.

II Corinthians 6

14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

*****

* Prayer

Philippians 4:6-7

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

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

*****

(Comments by Joan Boney)

I had a rather serious dental appointment scheduled on November 30, 2020.

I did exactly what it says to do in Philippians 4:6 ... The appointment was scheduled about 2 months earlier.  I knew there was a possibility of a root canal.

Every time during those weeks approaching the appointment when I thought of the appointment, I prayed, asking God for help.  I asked God to help the dentist in the decisions that she made, and that she not do more to me than needed. I asked God to keep me from being hurt.  I even prayed that I not be afraid.

I had asked God to help me to physically get ready for the appointment, to get my hair washed and get shower.  (I'm 83 now and this can be difficult.)

On the Saturday before the appointment, all of a sudden I asked Pam if we could go get my hair cut that afternoon.  This is one of those non-appointment shops we go to.  But because of the rise in Coronavirus we had not been for about 3 months.  There was no difficulty at all in getting into the shop.  It was 2 days after the American holiday, Thanksgiving Day.  The hair operator said they had been very busy but that day was "slow".  I was so glad.  I had asked God not to let either Pam or myself get Coronavirus.

The day of the dental appointment, I was easily able to take shower.

It took two hours for dentist to do the work on my tooth.  I felt no pain at all, neither during the procedure nor after.  Dentist said she decided to remove the crown and drill out the decay and not do a root canal.  She said, "Let's try this first."

I thanked God for answering each part of my prayer.

And I was "careful for nothing" because I had prayed according to Philippians 4:6.

It is so important for each of us to live a "carefree" life through God day by day, second by second.

I had even prayed if there was any reason I should cancel that appointment that God would show me.  But no reason manifest itself so I went on to the appointment.

Even after all the dental work was done, there was not one second of pain or discomfort.

"Let your requests be made known unto God."

*****

* Many in the church are weak and sickly and many die because they mishandle the Word of God.

 

In both the Old and New Testament we have strong warning about the misuse of the Word of God. 

 

God gave very specific instruction concerning the building of the ark of the covenant.  It was to be made from specific wood and covered inside and outside with pure gold.  For the ark was to contain the most precious thing of all things on this entire earth.  What did they carry in the ark?  rubies, gold, diamonds?  

 

No that which they carried was far more precious than the most precious things of this world. 

 

 God said:  "And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee." 

 

And only select men could carry the ark.  When a man who was not appointed to touch the ark, reached up and steadied the ark when the oxen stumbled, God struck this man dead.

 

II Samuel 6:1-7  Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.  And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. 

 

And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.  And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

Uzzah was not one of the men who was appointed by God to touch the ark, the Bible.

Paul explains to us that because men use the Bible unworthily, many are weak and sickly and many die.

*****

In the New Testament, Paul says, I Corinthians 11:27-31 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (die).

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

(In this scripture, Paul is speaking of the way we use the Bible.)

Using the Bible is a very serious matter.  The examples of the Old Testament show how precious the Word of God is and how it must be handled carefully.  This is confirmed in the New Testament.

Jesus, The Word of God, is above rubies and all other things to see or desire.

Because of the misuse of the Word of God, many today are weak and sickly and many die.

*****

* We admonish one another showing them the way of God as we live on this earth.

 Romans 15:14  Paul says:  And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

admonish:  to warn one another and to show the way of God ... to reprimand, to drive a person to turn back to the way of God.

When we see a person going in the way of this world, contrary to the way of God, we tell that person of the way of God and we urge that person not to go in the way of this world, which causes destruction to themselves.

Multiple times, I've witnessed Pam Padgett trying to turn both men and women to the Bible.  She shows these people the scripture on the subject, giving them a chance to turn from the way they are about to go and conform themselves to the Word of God.

I do this both to the church people and to the worldly people, for why would I want either to be destroyed in the way they are going.  

(When they repent and heed the scriptures they are saved from this world and its ways.)

We conform ourselves to the image of Christ when we follow The Word and we give them an opportunity to do the same thing as we "admonish" them.

*****

* Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Rom. 15:13)

When we believe the Word of God we are filled with joy and peace and hope.

There are thousands upon thousands of great promises of God for us in the Bible.  

2 Peter 1:4

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

When the Holy Spirit of God reminds us of one of these promises of God in the situation of this present life, we can focus on that promise and live above the troubles of this world because we know the God who created this world is far greater than this world.  We hope in God!

The church is built upon that Word which God reveals to us in the problems of this life.  We stand upon "that word", the word that comes to us from God by HIS Spirit.  Therein is power.

*****

We have great joy and peace and hope for we believe Jesus will return and gather the church.  Jesus will raise the dead in Christ from the graves and Jesus will remove those who are still living who are of God from this present earth.

How do we know these things?

The Bible tells us this.

I Thessalonians 4

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with HIM.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

***

We will all be changed into our new spiritual bodies:

I Corinthians 15   The apostle Paul says:

48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

***

Then we will be taken to the new heaven and the new earth which is prepared by God for all who are righteous.

Revelation 21  The apostle John says:

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

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

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

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

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

***

There will be no unrighteous in that new heaven and new earth, the new Jerusalem.

Revelation 22  Jesus says:

12  And, behold, I come quickly; and MY reward is with ME, to give every man according as his work shall be.

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

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

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

***

In the end, God will destroy this present heaven and earth by fire.

II Peter 3

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

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

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

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

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

***

And this present heaven and earth will not even come to mind.

Isaiah 65  God says:

17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in MY people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

*****

* Deuteronomy 28: Blessings of God valid for NT church today

Here are some of the blessings and promises of God that are valid for today's NT church:

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.

3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and HE shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

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.

10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.

11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

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:

14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

And there are many more blessings of God valid from OT for today's church.

*****

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.

***

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.

***

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.

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.

***

And there are many other OT promises valid today for those who love the Word of God and believe that which God says and lives by those Words in his life on this present earth.

***** 

* Building your house on the Word from God.

We can build our house by doing a scripture ... or we can build our house by doing a concept which is brought to us by the Holy Spirit of God.  Each time we do the Word from God, we are recreated in the image of Jesus, The Word, and we have the promise of God that our house will not fall in the storms of this present life.

Jesus says:

Matthew 7:24-27  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:  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.

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:  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.

Here is an example of building your house on a concept brought to you by the Holy Spirit of God in the form of a thought:  I had moved from Texas to Colorado in 2019 and had put the house in Texas up for sale.  It did not sell.  Coronavirus hit the USA in March, 2020.  It was a fear filled time to try to sell a house.  I prayed, "God, is there anything I should do about that house in Texas."  Immediately the Holy Spirit brought the following concept to my mind:  "Lower the price of the house and put it on special sale for 1 week."  I did this that same day and the house sold within the week.

Here is an example of building your house on a scripture:  The following scripture caught my attention.  I felt God was showing me to do this scripture so I began meditating on this verse to enable me to have strength to "live" this verse, doing this verse in my life.  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 had many opportunities to do this scripture through the coming years.

An instruction can come through a scripture or through a concept brought from God to our mind in the form of a concept.  Either way, when we do the instruction we build our house on a rock and our house will not fall and we are recreated each time we do the Word from God into the image of Jesus who is THE WORD.

*****

A concept brought to my mind by the Holy Spirit of God giving me information in 2018.

On December 6, 2018, I fell at my house in Texas.  As the ambulance workers rolled me past the front door of my house, I had the following brought to my mind:  "You'll never see this house again."  I believed this to be information from God.  I put the house up for sale even from the hospital.  I moved directly to Colorado after 2 1/2 months in the rehabilitation hospital.  The house sold 1 1/2 years later.  I never saw that house again.  Because I believed that Word, I held fast to selling that house for I knew I would never see that house again.

***

As a new Christian in 1975, I saw the following scripture and felt I should do this scripture.

Romans 13:8  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Another scripture confirming this direction to me was as follows:

Deuteronomy 28:12-13   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:

I saw debt as a way that would cause me to be the "tail" and not "the head".  So I sat about to get out of debt and to stay out of debt, I felt this was God's way for me to go on this earth.  I prayed for God to help me to get out of debt and to stay out of debt.  Within about 6 months, I got out of debt.  I've never been in debt since this time in 1975.  If I had to go back into debt, I didn't buy that thing. God even made it possible for me to build a house without going into debt.  So much of doing a scripture has to do with our determination to do that scripture and to go in that way of life instructed by that scripture.

***

During the years between 1975 and 1980, I owned a small business in American Indian Arts in Dallas, Texas.  A man filed a lawsuit against several dealers of American Indian arts charging us with conspiring to keep him from doing business in Dallas.  He rented motel rooms and sold jewelry.  I had never heard of this man before he filed the law suit against me.

God showed me the following scripture which is a promise from God to the church:

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.

As a result of seeing this promise of God, I knew no weapon against me would prosper.  The lawyer fees were eating all the profits from my business.  If I continued with my lawyers I would be back in debt before many months.  Based on this promise from God, I dismissed my lawyers and planned to go to court without human legal counsel.  My lawyer said, "Joan, you can't do this.  You don't realize how evil the courts are in USA."  I told my lawyer that I am now a Christian and this is a promise of God to HIS people, "No weapon formed against us will prosper."  Therefore this weapon against me would not be able to prosper.  I dismissed my lawyers.  

A week later, lawyer came to me and said they had decided to represent me without any future legal fees.  But I didn't hear them say anything about God showing them to do this.  So I prayed, "God, what do YOU want me to do."  

The Holy Spirit brought to my mind the following scripture to show me what to do about this "free" legal service.

Genesis 14:21-23   

21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

22 And Abram 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,

23 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:

I knew by this that God was telling me to turn down the "free" legal service, which I what I did.  

A few months later, the man dropped all charges against everyone.

I set my goal in future for my provision to be from God in all things.

***

When we build our house on a Word from God, our house will not fall even when the storms of this life hit our house.  

*****

* When a minister teaches another man's work.

Recently when a man came to me identifying( himself as a "pastor", he said he needed a projector to be able to share my teachings with his church.  I told him, "Just teach Bible." (This man was trying to get me to buy a projector for him and send it to him in the Philippines.  I live in USA.)

The apostle Paul spoke to the people that which God had given to him to speak.  Paul said he spoke by the "grace" God gave to him.  Paul didn't copy other men's works nor build on the works of other men.  Paul shared with the church that which God had given to him.

The apostle Paul said:

Romans 15

15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,

18  For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

20  Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

 

*****

* Extortion in religious circles.

Often ministers will say things like this to their congregations:  "Please pray that God will help me to get a new car so I can do ministry work."

When he prayed like that, he is often hoping that someone in the congregation will give him the car or that the congregation will give him a car, otherwise he would pray to God in secret rather than praying openly before his congregation.

In such cases, he is praying to man, hoping man will give to him.

Concerning prayer, Jesus says:

Matthew 6:5-8  Jesus says: And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Recently a man who calls himself a pastor, contacted me by e-mail asking me to send him a computer and a projector.  I told this man to get a part time job and earn the money for these objects.  He replied it took all of time to "minister" and he couldn't get a job.  I remembered how the apostle Paul worked as a tent maker and ministered the gospel in his spare time.  God showed me this man was a beggar, a thief, and an extortioner.

This man said he needed the projector to be able to teach the things I teach.  I told him, "Just teach the Bible then."

I know this man tried to con me with flattery, telling me things he thought I wanted to hear.  But he got so twisted in trying to do this that he made his deception obvious to me.

Also I have seen individuals in the congregation use prayer as a way to communicate their own needs to other people, hoping to get from others in the church.

It is a great sin to use prayer this way.

Often prayer is prayer to other men rather than prayer to God.  And often their prayer is really "extortion" for it makes the other person feel bad if they don't give when they are able to give.

Extortion:  The practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats or coercion.

Often they use scripture to try to get money from their congregation, implying that if the people do not give then they will not be blessed by God.

The apostle Paul said if a "brother" in Christ is an "extortioner", don' keep company with him. (I Cor. 5:11;13)

Ministers often use extortion to get their congregations and others to give to them.

*****

* Using "prayer" as a means to let men know your need, hoping they will give to you.

Often men contact me saying they are ministers and they ask me to pray that God will give them a computer or some other material object ... and I know they are not really wanting prayer but they want me to send this object to them.  In fact, they want me to "be god" for they do not understand God as a spirit.  They only see flesh of man as being their provision.

But those who are of God, do the following:

Philippians 4:6-7  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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

I Corinthians 2:9-13   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. But God hath revealed them unto us by HIS Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 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. 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. 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.

Matthew 6:5-8  Jesus says:  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask HIM.

*****

* 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.

*****

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

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

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

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

Make your calling and election sure.

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

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

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

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

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

*****

* Prayer requests? YOU should pray.

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

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

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

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

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

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

You should pray!

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

(You pray directly to God.)

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

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

You pray directly to God!

*****

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is all very evil.

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

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

You should pray directly to God.

***

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

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

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

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

She replied, "No."

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

She examined the fixture and bought it.

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

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

Her faith was in me instead of being in God.

Eventually she was removed from our church group.

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

*****

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

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

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

In England their pastors are called "vicars".

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

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

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

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

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

*****

* What God says in the Bible about ministers.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

God says: 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*****

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

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

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

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

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

*****

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

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

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

Concerning the last days, Jesus warns:

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

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

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

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

*****

* Letter to a pastor

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

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

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

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

Joan Boney

*****

* Beggar, thief, and extortioner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jesus called HIS ministers as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

But not "Reverend".

*****

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

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

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

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

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

***

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

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

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

I sent him the following letter.

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

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

Joan Boney

***

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

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

***

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

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

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

***

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

I had the answer rather quickly.

I sent email to this man as follows:  

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

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

***

The apostle Paul says:

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

13  put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

This is what I will do with this man.

*****

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

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

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

*****

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

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

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

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

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

*****