Bonus Chapter: Child Abuse


Child abuse is such an understood abominable sin among the human race that it is not even spoken of in the Bible.  It is an unthinkable sin to us.

With all other sins, God, in the Bible speaks, showing such things as adultery and fornication to be sins.  God speaks in both Old and New Testament showing homosexuality to be sin, calling such sodomy.

All this is spoken in the Bible so man may see the sin from God's eyes and repent.

But child abuse is not spoken of in either Old or New Testament.

This causes me to believe this was such a terrible sin against the nature of man that there would be no repentance from this evil.


*** 

It is the Holy Spirit who brings truth about sin.

I believe the Holy Spirit has brought this truth about the sin of child abuse to all human creatures, therefore to sin in this way would be a type of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.


***

About 3 years ago, I had a dream where a church building, that I believed to be Catholic, was on fire.  This building had a double tower, like many Catholic church buildings.  The firemen were working to extinguish the fire but there was no way they could save this church. Fire was shooting out each of the windows and the top of the building. 

August 2018, there was an enormous uproar among the congregations in the Catholic church against child abuse, as there should be with each of us.  It is an horrible thing.  

Some of the leaders of the Catholic church told the Catholic pope that he must come out and make a statement against this, which he did in August, 2018, although this abuse has been reported among Catholic priests for many decades.  

This may appease some in the congregations but how could any parent really trust a Catholic priest or allow their child to go to this church where such has a history of decades of child abuse?

And when a child abuse priest is discovered, it is so often covered up by the Catholic church officials and that evil priest is transferred to another city and another Catholic church to give him a fresh start in his practice of child abuse.

How could a Catholic congregation know but what the new priest is not one of the transferred child abusers.


*****

So many things taught by Catholic church are against teachings of Holy Bible.

My contractor, who is Catholic, once said to me he almost left the Catholic church because of the child abuse scandals where Catholic priests were predators against children. Many of these cases were headline news at that time in 2004.

I told him one of the main problems is the Catholic church does not allow their priests to marry.

Contractor replied:  "Well ... I don't know about that."

I said:  "The apostle Peter was married."

Contractor was very shocked.  "Peter ... ?" he questioned.

I said, "Yes ... that is what it says in the Bible.  Peter had a mother-in law and also Peter had children.  Peter was an elder in the church and one qualification to be an elder, according to the Bible, was for the elder to have multiple children.  

And at one scripture it spoke of Jesus and the disciples being in Peter's house while Peter's mother-in-law was sick.  Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law and she arose and served them.


(I took a Bible and showed contractor these scriptures.)

Matthew 8:14-15    And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, HE saw his (Peter's) wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.  And HE touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

Peter said he was an elder in the church.

I Peter 5:1   The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

An elder in the church must be husband of one wife and have his own children under proper control.

Titus 1:5-7    For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:  If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God;

(elder and bishop are the same thing in NT church and this title is used interchangeably for these positions in the church.)


*****

The Catholic church is set up far from the description of church in Bible.  

There are many teachings and rules contrary to Bible in the Catholic church. 


Yet the Bible is the inspired Word of God and by the Bible we see God's way of godliness.  The Bible is the only rule book the church has to go by.


II Timothy 3:16-17   All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.


***** 

Forbidding their priests to marry is just one of those rules set up by man and not by God in Bible and this rule invites perverts into the priesthood. It becomes a haven for perverts.


Also in Bible we see in the end time there will be church groups who forbid marriage.

I Timothy 4:1-3     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.

(Telling church group they cannot eat meat on Fridays and setting up "Lent" where members have to give up something are further religious abominations added by humans in Catholic churches and are even contrary to scripture.  Jesus paid for our sins.  We don't do works to pay for our sins.  Rather we just believe on the works of Jesus and are thereby justified through Jesus' shed blood.)

vv. 4-5
  God says:  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.


The apostle Paul calls these "doctrines of devils."   (I Timothy 4:1)



***
Concerning minister's marrying ...
Paul even said in the Bible that they, the apostles, had a right to "lead about a wife." 

I Corinthians 9:5    Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?


*** 

For some strange reason, someone in power in Catholic church made up a rule where priests could not marry. 

But this is a rule made up by man and is contrary to the rules of God and conflicts with the nature God put in man concerning marriage, for most men will marry. 

Once the apostles said to Jesus wouldn't it be better for man not to marry.  

Matthew 19:3-12     The Pharisees also came unto Him, tempting Him, and saying unto Him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

And HE answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that HE which made them at the beginning made them male and female,  And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?  Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

They say unto Him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

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

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

His disciples say unto Him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
 

But HE said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.


***

I Corinthians 7:1-2   Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

***
If you read the Bible, you know how contrary the set-up of the Catholic church is.

* There is no such thing as "nuns" in Bible. No command for unmarried women to work in specified groups like this in the Catholic church. All this is made up by men who ruled over what they would do in the churches.

***

* No where in the New Testament does it tell us to wear medieval costumes in ministry.

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they loved to wear robes calling attention to themselves. 

Matthew 23:5   But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 

Luke 20:46   Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;



***  

* Jesus even forbad them to call another man "Father". 

Matthew 23:6-10   And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.  And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.


***

* Ministers in New Testament church are not called "priests".  (This is Old Testament.)

In the NT, ministers in Bible examples are called:  apostle, prophet, evangelists, pastor, teacher

Ephesians 4:8; 11-12    When HE (Jesus) ascended up on high, HE led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men ... And HE gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:


***


* There is no such thing as a "cardinal" in the NT church in Bible, nor "pope".  

The Catholic leadership added these titles and they are made up by men and worldly and have no place in the church.  

Nor do they have power of God but only power of men in that church.


***

* In NT Bible, there is no scripture telling a person to pray to Mary.  

Mary is dead.  She has no power at all to help anyone.  Dead people are asleep, according to New Testament Bible.

John 11:11-14  Jesus said to HIS disciples:  Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
Then said His disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.


(Jesus shows us that to be dead is simply to be asleep.)

You do not pray to dead people.

You pray directly to God.

Rosaries are not in the Bible and are contrary to instruction in Bible.

Matthew 6:7 Jesus says:   But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.


***

* Nor can a priest forgive your sins as they teach in Catholic church.

Only God can forgive sins.

Mark 2:1-12   And again HE entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that HE was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and HE preached the word unto them.

And they come unto Him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

And when they could not come nigh unto Him for the press, they uncovered the roof where HE was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

When Jesus saw their faith, HE said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

And immediately when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, HE said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?  But that ye may know that the Son of man
(Jesus) hath power on earth to forgive sins, (HE saith to the sick of the palsy,)  I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
 


(By this, Jesus demonstrated HIMSELF to be God, having the power to both forgive sins and heal the body.)

Also in the NT church Jesus is the atonement for sin.  HIS blood paid for our sins.  In NT Church you do not go to a human to have that human atone for your sins.  You simply believe on Jesus as the atonement for sins.

Hebrews 1:2-3   (God) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by HIS Son, whom HE hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also HE made the worlds;

Who being the brightness of HIS glory, and the express image of HIS person, and upholding all things by the word of HIS power, when HE had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:


Therefore you confess your sins directly to God.


John 14:6   Jesus says:  no man cometh unto the Father, but by ME.


***

* To have those "graven images" inside the church building is a terrible thing to do in a church.

There are 47 references against graven images in Bible.

Here is one of those scriptures:

Leviticus 26:1     Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God.

To teach their people to pray to concrete and stone and to pray to dead "saints" and to cross themselves as Catholics teach, is a type of religious superstition and is an abomination without power of God and not in Bible and is even against Bible, teaching people to trust in something set up by man and devoid of God's power.

Our faith must be placed in that which God has set up for the church and we know these things set up by God through reading the Bible.


***

* Concerning "crossing themselves" ... as I understand it, they bless themselves by this ... I see football players cross themselves to make things go well, but they never consider it when it does not work.

Crossing yourself in not in Bible.  Fleshly, religious men made this up.

This is a religious superstition ... a type of witchcraft.

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

***

* Lighting of candles to pray is another abomination added to the church by fleshly men. This act  is not shown in the Bible. 

In Bible we are shown this:  If we pray to God according to the will of God our prayer is answered.

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.


***

The Bible is inspired by God.  

In the Old Testament, we have the "law" which God gave Moses prior to the promised Messiah, who was Jesus.

In the New Testament, we have salvation paid through Jesus Christ and His works.  

The Old Testament is important to the church but we go by the New Testament which reflects the New Covenant of God set up for the church that is of Jesus.

If we have an example in the New Testament Bible showing something "religious", then we have a basis for doing that thing.  

But when there is no example of such things as lighting candles to get prayers answered, or crossing yourself, or using names such as pope and cardinals for ministers of God, then you must not add these things or follow those churches who add these things. 

For the New Testament Bible is the "rule" book for today's church to show us the way of God.

Thus we read the following: 



II Timothy 3:16-17  
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

By the New Testament we prove our doctrine for our churches as the Holy Spirit guides us from scripture to scripture.





*****


John 4:23-24    Jesus says:    But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship HIM.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship HIM must worship HIM in spirit and in truth.


When a church sets up a doctrine or ritual that is not in the New Testament that is a doctrine of men and not a doctrine of God.


*****

HTML Righteousness, Prosperity and Good Success Product Description

If you delight in God and the Word of God and the things of God, I believe you will enjoy reading this book.

God blesses HIS people and even frees us from following after money as HE gives us all that we need and will do so as long as HE keeps us on this earth.

Jesus said no man can serve two masters. We cannot serve God and "mammon".

So God made a way whereby we could follow after HIM, and still prosper and have good success.

At the time I was born again, I owned a small business in Dallas, Texas. After I was born again, all I cared about was God and the church. I was completely changed. The greatest thing that has ever happened in my life is being born again.

I no longer thought about my business. I had 3 competent women who worked for me and that made it possible for me to stay home and read the Bible. I used what I read in the Bible as principles for running my business. I didn't do this in order to prosper and have good success. I just wanted to do that which was right in the sight of God and as a result I prospered and had good success.

I didn't follow after money, riches, wealth. I just followed after scripture.

Jesus said:

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33

Prosperity and good success are by-products of our seeking after the righteousness of God.

That is what this book is about.

Joan Boney

Righeousness, Prosperity, and Good Success: Product Description


If you delight in God and the Word of God and the things of God, I believe you will enjoy reading this book.  

God blesses HIS people and even frees us from following after money as HE gives us all that we need and will do so as long as HE keeps us on this earth.

Jesus said no man can serve two masters.  We cannot serve God and "mammon".

So God made a way whereby we could follow after HIM, and still prosper and have good success.

At the time I was born again, I owned a small business in Dallas, Texas.  After I was born again, all I cared about was God and the church.  I was completely changed.  The greatest thing that has ever happened in my life is being born again.

I no longer thought about my business.  I had 3 competent women who worked for me and that made it possible for me to stay home and read the Bible.  I used what I read in the Bible as principles for running my business.  I didn't do this in order to prosper and have good success.  I just wanted to do that which was right in the sight of God and as a result I prospered and had good success.

I didn't follow after money, riches, wealth.  I just followed after scripture.

Jesus said:  

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
  Matthew 6:33


Prosperity and good success are by-products of our seeking after the righteousness of God.

That is what this book is about.

Joan Boney


Righteousness, properity, and good success: 1


God spells out for us the way to righteousness, prosperity, and good success through the information in the following two scriptures.


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

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

Have not I commanded thee? 

(Isn't it God who told you to do that which you are currently doing?)

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.


*****


Psalm 1:1-3    Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

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


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.


*****

If we fashion our life according to the instructions in these two scriptures we are going to be going in a way of righteousness as we live on this earth.

And we will also prosper and have good success on this earth.

If you will take each verse which is called to your attention by the Holy Spirit, and focus on that verse and do that verse, you will come into prosperity and good success without even trying to do so.


*****

During the past 43-years, I have never sought money or things of this world.  My focus as been on scripture and the church.  As I followed scripture, by the Spirit of God, at first it would seem I encountered loss ... but then it was like God did for me like HE did with the prophet Job.

Job 42:12   So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: 


I didn't follow after blessings.  I followed after verses of scripture that were called to my attention by the Holy Spirit and I tried to do those scriptures, and the blessings followed the doing of the scripture.

Today I have ended up, at 80-years-of- age, lacking nothing.

Many people in churches say, "The Lord is my shepherd:  I shall not want."

But when the Lord is your shepherd, you follow HIM, doing that which HE shows you to do.

After a time of following those scriptures shown you by the Holy Spirit, you will one day realize that you actually have all you want.  It just happened along the way as you followed God without even thinking of what you wanted.

Matthew 6:33    But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.


All we think of is doing that scripture or word given us by the Spirit of God.

Deuteronomy 8:18    But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is HE that giveth thee power to get wealth, that HE may establish His covenant which HE sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.


*****

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

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


Joshua 1   

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

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


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



*****


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

Romans 13:8    Owe no man any thing

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

I stopped buying things on credit.  I bought only those things for which I could pay cash.

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

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


*****

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

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

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

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

But now I am a Christian!

And I saw the following instruction:

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

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

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

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

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

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

However, on this trip something very unusual happened.

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

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

At the time she appraised it at $1500.

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

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

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

"Let me see it,"  he said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I never saw the man again.

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


*****

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

Romans 13:8   Owe no man anything

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


*****


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

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

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

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


*****

How does God give me HIS wisdom?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



*****

Also God had shown me the following scripture to live by:

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

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

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



*****


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

Another scripture I had been living for weeks:  

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

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

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



*****

Righteousness, properity, and good success: 2


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.


*****

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

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

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

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



*****


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


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

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

I really wanted to do this all the time.

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

I took my Bible and wrote the following on the top of each book in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.  I didn't want to forget to do this before reading daily!

"ASK GOD FOR WISDOM"


*****


God explained to me many things from the Bible.

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

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

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

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

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

Jesus was warning us this would happen in the end. 


*****


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

The apostle Paul says:

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

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


*****


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

Jesus said:

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

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


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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then we deliberately choose that shown us by God.

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

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

The Holy Spirit called to my attention the following scripture:

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

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

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

But the Holy Spirit brought to my mind the scripture in Ephesians 4:29 ... Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



*****



Another example: 

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

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

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

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



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



I hired a lawyer to represent me.


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

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

The Holy Spirit called to my memory the following scripture: 

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


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

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

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

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

My lawyer greatly objected when I told him my plan.

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

My response to lawyer:

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

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

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

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

But what does God want me to do?

I told Gordon I would have to let him know.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


*****

Now c
onsider Joseph:


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


*****

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

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

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

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

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

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



*****

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

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

The Holy Spirit always shows us God's way.



*****

Jesus says:

Matthew 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.


*****