Jesus tells us to "Be ready" for HIS return ... and to "endure" holding fast to God and God's word although this present world is very wicked.
Before Jesus returns, the apostasy (twisting and omitting scriptures in the churches) will happen in the churches. (That is happening now ... see Vol. 4, Exhortations for the Church)
Jesus explains:
Mt. 24 ... 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
To endure: We need to surround our minds even more with Bible and godly exhortations.
The wickedness of this world could be discouraging. We will need to look at those things that are unseen ... things above ... that which God says and that which God has planned for HIS people. This must be our focal point.
Therefore we see the following instruction ...
Heb. 10:25 ... but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
These volumes of Exhortations for the Church help us to endure through the wickedness of this present world and also these exhortations help us to be ready for the return of Jesus for the church.
Joan Boney
Preface: Vol. 5
Jesus says, "BE READY" for HIS return.
*****
The apostasy (the falling away from scripture in churches) has happened and is continuing to happen ... antichrist has appeared through many preachers in churches today and through the hearts of congregations who approve these preachers as they remain sitting in those apostate churches where scripture is completely omitted or changed to allow sin to be approved and even flourish in the congregation.
All this sets the stage for the return of Jesus which could happen any time.
II Thess. 2:1-4 ... Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
*****
The falling away (the apostasy) ...churches falling away from scripture by completely omitting scripture or by explaining scripture away to allow sin into the congregation and to approve those in congregation as they commit sinful acts which are opposite to instruction in Bible.
Man of sin (antichrist) ... a spirit taking over in the hearts of those persons who change the scripture.
*****
We must exercise ourselves unto godliness by a deliberate act of our will ... reading Bible and godly exhortations daily ... choosing God in our daily ventures.
This book is an avenue to help us daily to surround our minds with God's way and to uproot the thinking of men.
Romans 12:1-2 ... I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world:but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Joan Boney
5/1 ... Deliver us from evil
In January 1980, God spoke 3 words to me: Hartford, Seattle, KWJS
I was asleep in the night when these 3 words were spoken in a very loud voice (like a trumpet) which awakened me. I jumped out of bed and wrote KWJS on a notepad so I wouldn't forget this. It seemed like call letters to radio or TV. The next day, I found it to be a radio station.
When I prayed, God showed me to call radio station manager. I did such the day I heard this word. I told the station manager God might be showing me to go on radio and I asked this manager how you do that.
He said: "Make an audition tape 29 1/2 minutes long and send it to us and if you fit our broadcasting, we will offer you a contract."
I had a tape recorder. I made an audition tape that morning and mailed it that day.
Within a week, I was broadcasting on KWJS on Monday through Friday... exhorting the church in the ways of God.
I started the broadcasts on KWJS and shortly added stations in Oklahoma City and in Houston. In only a few months, I was on radio from east coast to west coast of USA. ("Hartford, Seattle")
The early messages given by God were very popular among the church groups. The subjects: Taking Thoughts Captive, Dealing with Destructive Thoughts, Overcoming through Scripture, Following God by HIS Spirit.
During those months, I traveled to each radio city and had 2-3 day meetings for the radio audience.
Everything was growing.
*****
After one of the meetings in Seattle, I was on a bus going to airport and I heard the following by the Spirit of God. "The foundation is laid. Now we're really going to move."
I was very excited over this word ...
*****
Shortly after this, I had a meeting at a church in Hobbs, NM (USA). Enroute back to Dallas where I lived at that time, the Holy Spirit began speaking to me...
The time is come that judgment must begin at the House of God ...
The time is come that judgment must begin at the House of God ...
The time is come that judgment must begin at the House of God ...
*****
A few days later, God called my attention to sins being committed by Jimmy Swaggart. I tried to get a message to Swaggart but I couldn't get a message to him. So I presented the message on my own radio broadcasts, telling what God showed me and naming by name Jimmy Swaggart.
Hate mail from Swaggart's followers poured in to us ...
KWJS was owned by Jimmy Swaggart at that time. He also owned the Houston station where I was broadcasting. (They were among the first stations to put me off the air.)
*****
In Seattle, the radio station manager was waiting for me at the door to the convention center where I was having meeting for Seattle radio audience. George had been very friendly to me but this time he was not smiling as I approached him at the meeting room.
George said, "Joan, you have many good messages. Just speak those messages. If you continue to speak these judgment messages, I don't know what is going to happen to you. We might have to put you off the air."
Without any thought whatsoever on my part, the Holy Spirit spoke the following words through me to George.
"If I don't speak the message I believe to be from God then I don't have a message and I may as well be off the air."
*****
I continued to speak that which I believed God wanted spoken and about 1/2 of my stations put me off the air.
Many of my own people left me.
It was a very difficult time for me.
Another devastating thing happened to me. I had a dream which was very difficult to see.
In the dream, I was looking at an established piece of land. All of a sudden, one entire piece broke off and slid away. Then another went. Then another. Then another. (the sliding away of land was silent) And I heard these words, "It will be alright through January but in February it will break loose."
I was terrified! I warned the church on my radio broadcasts.
*****
February came and went and nothing happened. It looked to people like I was a false prophet. Masses of people left me.
I had no idea what had happened. It wasn't until approximately 2015 that God explained to me what had happened back in 1982.
The dream of the breaking loose was showing masses of people leaving me. The reporting of the dream caused the departure of people from me.
God was delivering me from the evil of the apostate church which would be shown me later in 2016.
I rejoiced when God showed me what HE had done to deliver me from them.
*****
The apostle Paul said: II Tim. 4 ... 16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto HIS heavenly kingdom: TO WHOM be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
*****
God delivered me by HIS plan in 1982. It was very hard for me to go through the type of persecution and rejection I received from church groups at that time.
Today it is no problem to me. I understand what happened and know my deliverance was authored by God.
I have stayed free from the influence of the apostate churches and am therefore free to speak the messages God wants me to speak concerning the apostate churches.
Job 42 ... 12 So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning:
*****
I am so happy to be able at this point in time to exhort the church on our blog: Jesus Ministries Exhortations
... and by the books we have published on Amazon.
These exhortations are available all over the world.
*****
I have been given the opportunity to exhort the church daily all over the world to give the individuals who believe an opportunity to get themselves ready for the return of Jesus for the believing church.
*****
In 1979, God gave me the following terrifying dream:
A meeting was going on. A man was speaking to a room filled with people. I went in and began to listen.
A second man rushed in and said: "Stop ... Wait ... Can't you see ... It's too late ... It's already begun."
The first man resumed speaking.
I looked out the window to see what had "already begun."
There was a tall pole with a yellow civil defense speaker at top of the pole. A gas was coming out of the speaker. I knew it was poisonous and would kill the people. It was coming directly toward us!
The shocking thing was the speaker that was set there for the purpose of warning us was being used as the instrument which dispersed the gas that was poison and would kill us!
I looked at the man seated next to me. He had a big grin on his face and was looking directly at the man who was speaking to the group. But then I saw this man was a corpse, though he looked alive. He was already dead!
I looked about the room at the other people and realized they were all dead.
As I sat back in my chair and listened to the man speaking I began to feel sleepy and I knew as I sat there among them this was killing me too.
*****
God was showing me the anarchy that was already going on in our church groups.
5/2 ... Concerning divorce/remarriage and adultery
In our little church group, we have 3 women who divorced and remarried. One of these women still lives with her 2nd husband.
We have never told a woman to leave her 2nd husband.
But we have told her to tell other people that according to the Bible she committed adultery when she divorced and remarried.
I Cor. 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.
Mt. 5:32 ... Jesus says ... 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.
Mk. 10:11-12 ... Jesus says ... And HE saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
*****
A woman wanted to tell me the "circumstances" of her mother's divorce.
God said to me by HIS Spirit: Just focus on the instructions given in the scriptures.
5/3 ... The Word of God will not return to God void ... It always accomplishes HIS purpose, which might not be our purpose ... We just speak the word given us by God.
Isaiah 55 ... God says ...
8 For MY thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways MY ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways,
and MY thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither,
but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall MY word be that goeth forth out of MY mouth: it shall not return unto ME void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
*****
The rain comes down from heaven and waters the earth. That rain accomplishes God's purpose. The rain does not fall and then go back up to heaven. Rain waters the earth.
God taught me to speak the word. Do not focus on the reaction of the person. Focus on the word and the fact that I spoke it to that person. That is my job.
The following scriptures are used by God to keep me going and to keep me speaking the word.
Heb. 3 ... 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
*****
Heb. 10 ... 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for HE is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together (this does not mean to stay in a corrupt, apostate church where the scriptures are omitted or denied but rather to assemble ourselves with other individuals who have the Holy Spirit and want to be ruled by God through the Spirit and the Bible), as the manner of some is;
but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
*****
I Cor. 15 ... 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
*****
Just keep speaking the truth. Be faithful to God to do the above, exhorting one another in the truth of God. Keep on doing this as long as you live on this earth. Be faithful to God.
*****
Isaiah 55 ...
12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace:
the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
5/4 ... Dealing with bad thoughts concerning the past
I received an email from a young woman who was troubled about the past. She had read what I had written on blog (Jesus Ministries Exhortations) and she wanted to ask me a question concerning divorce/remarriage.
As I started reading her email, I was praying, asking God to give me wisdom ...
Usually when anyone says to me, "I want to ask you something..." I begin praying, asking God for wisdom ...
I certainly do not want to answer by "my" opinion. Only that which God shares with us will help us.
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.
*****
As I was praying while looking at this young woman's email, I was reminded of what the apostle Paul said in Phil. 3 ... (several times while reading I was reminded of the following instruction)
Phil. 3:13-14 ... Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
*****
Most of us have memories of things from the past that we wish we hadn't done.
The only way I know to deal with bad memories is to turn immediately to God in prayer asking Him to help me. I don't believe any human is able to remove those bad memories but God has a way to help us with everything.
Do not tell your sins to another human ... not even to a minister. If you tell another person a terrible things you have done, you burden that other person needlessly.
Only God can remove sins.
Only God can heal us.
Talk to God. We have access to God at all times ... Lay your trouble out before God in prayer.
Sometimes I will forget to do that! Then I remember and begin to pray. It is almost like I can feel a weight lift from my shoulder when I remember to talk to God about troubling things of the past and how I wish I had done differently.
God is the only one who can help us with such things as this.
5/5 ... This heaven and earth will be destroyed by God but God remains and HIS Word endures forever
Hebrews 1 ... 10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of THINE hands:
11 They shall perish; but THOU remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12 And as a vesture shalt THOU fold them up, and they shall be changed:
but THOU art the same, and THY years shall not fail.
*****
By the scriptures in Bible, we know this present heaven and earth will be destroyed by God in the 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.
*****
God remains forever ... The Word of God endures forever ...
The Word of God should be our first priority daily. We hold fast to The Word of God. We cling to the Word of God, doing what HE says to us.
Mt. 7 ... Jesus said ... 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.
*****
In 1979, God gave me the following terrifying dream:
A meeting was going on. A man was speaking to a room filled with people. I went in and began to listen.
A second man rushed in and said: "Stop ... Wait ... Can't you see ... It's too late ... It's already begun."
The first man resumed speaking.
I looked out the window to see what had "already begun."
There was a tall pole with a yellow civil defense speaker at top of the pole. A gas was coming out of the speaker. I knew it was poisonous and would kill the people. It was coming directly toward us!
The shocking thing was the speaker that was set there for the purpose of warning us was being used as the instrument which dispersed the gas that was poison and would kill us!
I looked at the man seated next to me. He had a big grin on his face and was looking directly at the man who was speaking to the group. But then I saw this man was a corpse, though he looked alive. He was already dead!
I looked about the room at the other people and realized they were all dead.
As I sat back in my chair and listened to the man speaking I began to feel sleepy and I knew as I sat there among them this was killing me too.
*****
God was showing me the anarchy that was already going on in our church groups.
5/6 ... Are you overcoming or is the evil overcoming you?
Many of you are the only godly person in your household.
What is happening there? Are you continually speaking the Word of God to your household or are you withdrawing into silence and allowing the evil to sweep across everyone?
Turn on the light and the darkness vanishes. Turn off the light and the darkness reigns.
Mt. 5 ... Jesus says ... 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Lk. 12:35 ... Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
*****
Everywhere we are, goodness should reign.
We speak the Word of God and the evil flees. The evil no longer flaunts itself in our presence.
I've seen several people in my own family turn to God. I just kept speaking the truth of God. While some avoid me, others were saved, coming to the truth.
We are speaking here of eternal life.
That's the most important thing of all!
Nothing is more important.
When sin is brought to our attention, first we are shocked! When sin keeps being repeated, it begins to seem normal. I fight sin. When they flaunt sex on TV ads, I often return to Bible doctrine and read the Word of God to establish the truth in my heart.
Romans 12:2 ... And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
*****
Make no mistake, we must fight to hold on to the doctrines of Christ.
Paul told Timothy ... I Tim. 4 ... 1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
7 But refuse profane (secular) and old wives' fables (superstitions), and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in THE LIVING God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
*****
(When we speak the word of God we will both labor and we often suffer reproach because of the Word we speak. But we must speak to save ourselves and them that hear us. We cannot allow the evil around us to reign. Let the evil flee or let them repent and come to God. But we do not allow evil to reign when we are there.)
Once the Holy Spirit said to me: "If you fail to speak the truth, you steal from the other person."
Here is some sound wisdom we can live by, putting these "godly exercises" into our daily lives.
I Tim. 4 ... 13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
That which seems "normal" is often not godly.
For example: When we hear that a man is going to marry a divorced woman, does that seem normal in today's world?
Are we shocked when people are living together, having sex without being married?
Are we shocked and disgusted when we see a man with shoulder length hair? Or when we see a woman who has hair cut like a man's?
Are these really just personal preferences? Or are they sin in the sight of God? What does the Bible tell us?
Hopefully we see how important it is to read Bible daily and to read godly exhortations, reestablishing ourselves in the doctrine of God.
5/7 ... Speak truth when you know truth ... What are you waiting for? an engraved invitation from God?
When we published Vol. 4 of "Exhortations for the Church," I wanted to send a paperback copy to a woman with whom I went to high school.
As I thought on "what would God think about this", I was reminded of 4 other people from my early church years.
I tried the spirit and found it was the Spirit of God bringing this idea to me.
Later I was thinking, "Who is it that wants to withhold the truth of God?"
We sent the books.
*****
When you are with a worldly person and the subject of horoscopes comes up, do you share the truth of God that light can flood the room and all in the house can see? Or do you sit there in the dark with the evil reigning when you have the truth?
I think the main reason we don't speak is we know what we say will likely be unapproved by those who have spoken the evil.
Paul encouraged Timothy to "suffer the persecution" that would come for the Word's sake.
II Tim. 1 ... 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
*****
After I was born again (1975), God began teaching me to speak and not hold back.
We do not want their blood on our hands.
Paul talked about this subject of being "free" from the blood of all ...
Acts 20 ... 25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
*****
We often need strong motivation to be strong enough to speak truth from God.
5/8 ... When you don't know what to do ...
James 1:5 ... If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
*****
I often read Bible and don't know what a specific part of that scripture means. I just say to God, "I don't know what this means."
And at some point, usually God will give me understanding. It may be immediate or it may be years but in HIS time, God shows me. I don't go to other people and ask what they think it means. It would be wrong to handle it this way. I don't discuss it with other humans. I ask God. and wait ...
Here is an example of this:
Paul says ... in the last days ... perilous times will come ... people will come having "a form of godliness" but "denying the power thereof" ... from such turn away. (2Tim. 3)
What does this mean, "denying the power thereof"
One day, I was reading that scripture and God opened my eyes to see what it meant: (a revelation)
They say they are Christians but when they "deny the power of the scriptures to rule over them" they deny the power of God ...
*****
I gave a Catholic woman this scripture: Jesus said ... Mt. 23:9 ...And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
She thanked me for the message but remained in Catholic church, calling men "FATHER".
By her actions, she "denied the power of the scripture to rule over her."
Paul says, "from such turn away." ... just withdraw from such a person.
(I didn't see to "withdraw" myself until later.)
*****
James 1:5 ... If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
When we don't know what to do ... "ask God" ...
It doesn't say, "Ask your husband."
It doesn't say, "Ask your pastor."
The scripture says: "Ask God."
God might answer you directly. God might send another person to you to bring the answer. God might have a woman ask her husband. God might have you go to a minister.
The important point is: You asked God first. God will answer you and give you the information as HE wills.
Learn to make this a way of life ... for it is truly life for us.
5/9 ... Are you an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher?
If God has identified to you that you are one of the ministry offices, you should state that office in faith in that which God has shown you.
*****
Pam Padgett (our little church group) wrote an exhortation. At one time, we thought Pam was a "teacher". But when she wrote this exhortation, she told me she listed herself as, "Member of Body of Christ," (which she surely is, proven many times by the Holy Spirit that is in her.) I told her I thought this was exactly the right thing for her to do.
She had prayed asking God if she is a "teacher" but has never been shown by God that she is a "teacher" to the body of Christ.
Pam definitely has a spiritual gift of "helps" ... There is no doubt of that ... She even loves to help people in secular ways. She went from Colorado Springs to Houston, TX, to help one of our church group move. She loves to help people move.
Once we had a home meeting in Dallas. Pam helped clean and prepare the home where the meeting was to take place.
Pam does all the work for getting writings into the form required to publish e-books and paperback books on Amazon. Pam keeps the blog going daily, putting New Testament scriptures and Old Testament scriptures onto blog daily. She keeps our book listings up to date by adding the book covers to the right side of our blog page and by making links so people can read parts of the listed book.
The fruits produced by Pam clearly show "gift of helps" ... and she loves doing these thing. This is a gift of God to the church and is not of herself.
It is very important that we not copy each other thinking that because one person does one of the gifts, so should another.
God explained the gifts are like the human body. The foot does not try to see like the eye. Yet the eye needs the foot. And so it is in the church. We need one another but we do not have the same gifts in the church. I can't do what Pam does and neither can she do what I am called to do. Yet we function together as a unit, doing that which God raised us up to do.
*****
I Cor. 12 ... 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
*****
The placement where each of us are set is an assignment by God HIMSELF ...
I Cor. 12:18 ... But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased HIM.
Identify yourself in the area to which you know from God that you are placed, especially when it comes to the 5 ministry offices...apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher. (Eph. 4)
Some (not all) are set in ministry offices by God to care for the church in the office(s) to which they have been set by God.
Paul is set as apostle, teacher ...
Peter is set as apostle, elder ...
Silas is a prophet who often traveled with Paul ...
There is an authority given by God to do that work when you are assigned that work in the church.
God has shown me to identify the offices (apostle/prophet) to which I am set. Just as Paul identified the offices to which he was set, we, who know from God our calling, identify ourselves to the church. This can cause some to turn away from us when we identify our calling. That is certainly okay if they turn from us. Paul was not recognized as an apostle by all in the church when he walked on this earth.
Paul says: I Cor. 9 ... 1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? 2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
If the tree brings forth apples, we know that tree is an apple tree.
An apostle will deal with doctrine in the church and will deal with such with authority from God.
A prophet will often bring correction with authority of God.
If these fruits are on that tree, you should recognize the tree.
If a person has a gift of "exhortation", that person is anointed by God to exhort the church.
Exhort means: to urge earnestly by advice, warning. (There is an authority of God with that exhortation.)
When you have that authority of God on you, you can't hide it. You simply go into the room and something happens to cause "the answer", "the word" to come from you and it is different from other people speaking.
The people were amazed when Jesus spoke. Unlike others, Jesus had an authority that came forth when HE spoke.
After we started the blog (Jesus Ministries Exhortations) a pastor wrote me saying, "I like the way you write." This pastor didn't know what he was seeing was an anointing by God, not a skill inside me as a human.
II Cor. 3 ... 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 WHO also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Concerning the ministry offices and the spiritual gifts:
Eph. 4 ... (after Jesus arose/after the crucifixion and resurrection) ... 8 Wherefore HE saith, When HE ascended up on high, HE led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that HE ascended, what is it but that HE also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 HE that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that HE might fill all things.)
11 And HE gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into HIM in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
(You think there are "ministers of music" ... Find that in the Bible, in the New Testament, if so.)
Romans 12 ... 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry (serving), let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
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I Peter 4 ... 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
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I Cor. 12 ... Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as HE (God) will.
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If the eye could do everything there would be no need for hands.
NO ... we don't all operate in the same gifts from God. We aren't all placed in the same way, by God, in the church ...
I know what my assignment from God is for the body of Christ. (apostle, prophet, gift of exhortation, often given word of wisdom, word of knowledge, discerning of spirits)
I'm definitely not an "evangelist", though sometimes people have been "saved" when I have given them the word from God as it has been given to me.
I'm not a "pastor", even though God gave me a dream once where I was being left on an island to care for "children".
I'm not a "teacher", though I often give instruction and explain instruction.
For those having one of the 5 ministry offices: apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher ... we often remind other people of each other when we speak ... Several times, I've had radio station managers tell me I remind them of a certain radio/TV preacher who says he is a pastor. I suspect this man is not really a pastor but is likely a prophet though his denomination, Baptist, doesn't realize there are prophets today.
It is amazing: I see where these offices were given to the church by Jesus after Jesus arose ... and I don't see any place in Bible where they were ever removed from the NT church ...
Everyone should prove doctrine though prayer and through the Bible.
If the fruit keeps appearing on the tree, then that fruit tells us what the tree is.
5/10 ... Every knee should bow to Jesus
Phil. 2:10-11 ... That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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The name of Jesus is THE WORD ...
At THE WORD we fall down, giving up our own way, doing THE WORD ... thus we bow our knee to THE WORD by doing THE WORD.
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A man in our little church group filed divorced papers against his wife. When I heard of this, I called him and asked: "Was your wife committing fornication?" He said, "No."
Then I told him the only scriptural reason a man can divorce his wife was if she was committing fornication.
He looked at the scriptures on the subject and withdrew the divorce proceedings.
Mt. 5:32 ... Jesus says ... 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.
Mk. 10:11-12 ... Jesus says ... And HE saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
I Cor. 7:10-11 ... And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
By withdrawing the divorce proceedings, this man showed Jesus, THE WORD, to be his Lord.
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My mother was not born again and did not attend church.
All her life she enjoyed horoscope books.
Before I was born again, I had given her a set of coffee mugs with horoscope designs. After I was born again, I was at her house and opened cabinet and saw those horoscope mugs. I got garbage bag and began putting the mugs into bag. My mother was watching me as I did this. She became increasingly agitated at what she realized I was about to do. Then she said, "What are you doing... I want to keep those ... You gave them to me ..." (I didn't say a word.) When bag was filled with the mugs, I went directly to garbage dumpster in alley and broke the mugs and threw them into dumpster. I returned to the house and took Bible and began reading aloud the following to her from Bible.
Deut. 18 ... 9 When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God. 14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
After I read this, my mother was silent for a moment ... Then she said: "I guess we'd better not do that any more."
She bowed her knee to The Word of God ... I'm sure she was born again at that moment.
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A woman in our little church group read a scripture to her son. He replied, "That's so legalistic."
I was greatly troubled over this and I told God: "I'm greatly troubled over this."
Immediately I was reminded of the following scripture:
Mt. 7: Jesus says ... 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: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
"That's right", I said ... Rejoicing in the Word.
Later the woman's son, told his sister if Laura wanted to divorce him, she would have to pay for it because he didn't want a divorce. This was exactly in line with the Bible which he had said was so legalistic. Whether he knew it or not, he bowed his knee to the Word of God, changing from that which he planned and going according to what the Word of God said.
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I gave the following scripture to a Catholic woman by email.
Mt. 23:9 ... Jesus said ... 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
After about 3 weeks, she sent email saying, "Thank you for the message."
But she didn't do the scripture. She continued to attend Catholic church and continued to call those Catholic men "FATHER".
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II Tim. 3 ... 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
When a person denies the power of the scripture to rule over himself, turn away from him.
5/11 ... Work out your own salvation
Phil. 2:12-13 ... Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of HIS good pleasure.
Obey those scripture brought to your attention.
Share those scripture brought to your attention.
When the door opens, go through that door immediately.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of HIS good pleasure.
5/12 ... If we walk in the light
I Jn. 1:5-7 ... This then is the message which we have heard of HIM, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in HIM is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with HIM, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as HE is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ HIS Son cleanseth us from all sin.
The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin if we walk in the light.
If we lie to make ourselves seem better to other humans, we walk in darkness. For in God there is no darkness at all.
The devil is a liar and the father of lies. If we walk in lies, we show ourselves to be children of the devil, serving the devil.
Hypocrisy is "play acting." Letting the truth go and pretending something we are not. Darkness.
If we allow hatred into our hearts, we walk in darkness. If we take the offensive matter to God and ask HIM to clean our hearts and choose to give up the hatred, then we walk in light and show ourselves to serve God and not our own flesh for hatred is the way of the flesh.
We must choose to give up lies, hatred and all things that cause us to serve devils and our flesh.
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Col. 3:1-15 ... If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with HIM in glory.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of HIM that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
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Jesus exhorts us to BE READY for HIS return.
Mt. 24:42-51 ... Watch therefore:for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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We must not drift off course.
Let us make a practice of daily exercising ourselves unto godliness... holding fast in the faith, in doing and believing what God has said. Reading Bible daily ... surrounding our minds with Word of God ... Checking to see that we are doing the Word of God ... disciplining ourselves and encouraging ourselves by reading godly exhortations.
It is so interesting to note that multiple passages of scripture refer to the day of the Lord as being like a "thief" coming in the night. Jesus spoke this in Mt. 24. Paul spoke this to the church in I Thess. 5.
I Thess. 5:1-11 ... But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with HIM. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
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Walk in the light continually ... Keep yourself ready ...
II Peter 3:11-14 ... Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 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? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of HIM in peace, without spot, and blameless.
5/13 ... Trust in God more than you trust in yourself
Someone coming to see you and you want to be sure to tell that person such & such?
This is trusting in yourself to think you know what to say.
Instead, we must trust in God to bring to our minds what to say at the instant we are in conversation with that person.
What God brings to our mind by the Holy Spirit will do the work of God which will not return void but will accomplish that which God wants done.
Rest in God.
When I am going to doctor's appointment or know I am going to see someone I know, I pray, asking God to have me speak that which HE wants spoken. Then I speak as the subject arises when I am with the other person.
I think this is what the apostle Paul meant when he said to Timothy: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. II Tim. 4:2
5/14 ... Paul instructs ...
Phil. 2:14-16 ... Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life;
A pastor in Shreveport, LA, USA, wanted to remarry after divorce. He heard me speak about this subject and he called me and asked me if there had been any change since I spoke that message.
I told him so far as I knew, the Bible had not changed.
Mt. 5:32 ... Jesus said ... But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
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Mk. 10:2-12 ... And the Pharisees came to HIM (to Jesus), and asked HIM, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting HIM.
And HE answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. And he (Jesus) saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
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I Cor. 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.
... 39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
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Romans 7:1-3 ... Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
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Many in churches twist these scripture to approve their remarrying after divorce or to allow them to feel approved by marrying a divorced woman. But regardless, each will give account of himself by what he does in opposition to the Word of God.
Paul says in the last days there will be perilous times in the churches ... II Tim. 3:5 ... Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
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When a person comes to us identifying himself as a Christian, "having a form of godliness" ... but denies the power of the scripture to rule over him ... Paul says, "from such turn away." Depart from that person who will not heed scripture and goes in ways opposite to scripture.
5/15 ... Rejoice in the Lord
To me, this instruction given by Paul, to rejoice in the Lord, means to rejoice in that which God has said to you by HIS Spirit.
I thought on this and remembered the following:
I Thess. 4:13-18 ... 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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with HIM.
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 (dead).
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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
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For several days, the Holy Spirit said to me: "in the air"
And I thought on this scripture often. I also thought on II Peter 3 where Peter tells us this present heaven and earth will be destroyed. I thought on Revelation 21 where John described for us the new heaven and the new earth, "wherein dwelleth righteousness."
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I rejoiced in these things.
When a young man said the Bible was "legalistic", I grieved ... until I turned to God and was reminded of the following words of Jesus ...
Mt. 7:13-14 ... 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: 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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Then I rejoiced greatly! The Bible is a narrow path through the destruction of this world. As long as we stay on the path, we get through the destruction unscathed.
I Jn. 1:7 ... But if we walk in the light, as HE is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ HIS Son cleanseth us from all sin.
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To rejoice in the Lord ... think of the last word given you by the Holy Spirit ... and rejoice in that word.
The "Lord" is "The Word.
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