So often we as believers continually ask for things hoping God will provide all our earthly desires.
The following is a quote from a book by the title, "Ten Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe" by Larry Osbborne. "Our job is not so much to find something; it's to become someone---a reflection of His image and character where we find ourselves."
We have all desired things that were not God's will, but hung onto them until we saw that God was not answering and then decided it has been too long and will probably not happen.
I have had desires like this, letting go was not what I wanted, but when I saw that it was God's will, obeying actually was a release from those things. When we obey and seek Christ in us, then He works to release us from our earthly desires to move us toward trusting Him more.
It's the letting go that brings freedom from the bondage of our flesh.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
The Difference Between Normal and Narcissists
I have added one sentence to point number 4, as clarity for the believer. I have no evidence that this writer is a believer, but these points can be compared to the Bible in terms of the character of a believer in Christ.
Excerpts from Kim Saeed,
* We treat people with respect because we innately believe they are worthy of it. Narcissists treat those close to them with disrespect. They only act respectful towards “outsiders” as a way of maintaining their image.
*We offer love and acceptance to others because we know that’s why we are here and because we enjoy it. Narcissists only take love and acceptance. That’s all they know since they operate only from ego.
*When conflict arises, we are able to let it go and move on. Narcissists must get revenge.
*We trust in the good of all people. Narcissists believe everyone is just like them. (Here I (Gwendolyn Wehage) would add that believers choose to believe someone is acting out of kindness until it is proven they are not)
*We like to help people feel good about themselves and feel relief when a conflict has been resolved. Narcissists like to fight.
*We take responsibility when we’ve made a mistake. Narcissists blame everyone else.
*We enjoy being compassionate. Narcissists enjoy being manipulative.
*We often participate in careers and hobbies that serve. Narcissists only do what serves them.
Excerpts from Kim Saeed,
* We treat people with respect because we innately believe they are worthy of it. Narcissists treat those close to them with disrespect. They only act respectful towards “outsiders” as a way of maintaining their image.
*We offer love and acceptance to others because we know that’s why we are here and because we enjoy it. Narcissists only take love and acceptance. That’s all they know since they operate only from ego.
*When conflict arises, we are able to let it go and move on. Narcissists must get revenge.
*We trust in the good of all people. Narcissists believe everyone is just like them. (Here I (Gwendolyn Wehage) would add that believers choose to believe someone is acting out of kindness until it is proven they are not)
*We like to help people feel good about themselves and feel relief when a conflict has been resolved. Narcissists like to fight.
*We take responsibility when we’ve made a mistake. Narcissists blame everyone else.
*We enjoy being compassionate. Narcissists enjoy being manipulative.
*We often participate in careers and hobbies that serve. Narcissists only do what serves them.
Killing by Hatred and Contempt
Our actions will flow out of our hearts. We can only hide our heart so long and eventually it flows out through our attitudes,mouths and actions.
You can't hide from God, but you also can't hide forever from those who have discernment.
Your flesh will come piling out like a flood overflowing the banks of a river when our flesh becomes weakened as we grow older and too tired to bother hiding anymore.
Matthew 15:19 ""For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders."
If we think we are not guilty of murder, perhaps we ought to ask the Lord if there is any attitude of hatred in our hearts. God said that if we hate someone we are guilty of murder.
1 John 3:15 "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."
We do not have to "do" evil openly to someone to express hatred or contempt. All we have to do is have it in our hearts and it will spill over into mean words, withholding of affection, demeaning of character and other very covert means of killing them off.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away."
You can't hide from God, but you also can't hide forever from those who have discernment.
Your flesh will come piling out like a flood overflowing the banks of a river when our flesh becomes weakened as we grow older and too tired to bother hiding anymore.
Matthew 15:19 ""For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders."
If we think we are not guilty of murder, perhaps we ought to ask the Lord if there is any attitude of hatred in our hearts. God said that if we hate someone we are guilty of murder.
1 John 3:15 "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."
We do not have to "do" evil openly to someone to express hatred or contempt. All we have to do is have it in our hearts and it will spill over into mean words, withholding of affection, demeaning of character and other very covert means of killing them off.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away."
Allegiance to God Alone
In these last days of apostasy, we need to be aware of the wiles of the devil, he will use those close to us to hamper our fervor, while destroying our enthusiasm for Him, through covert means, we don't have to let him do this.
When we know the devil's tricks, we can ignore them and continue on in the Lord with whatever He has for us to do. When we have the opportunity to excuse ourselves from those who negate our calling, we must move on.
It is a sin to continue wallowing in agony over the loss of someone who does not love the Lord, simply because they have our blood running through their veins.
I recall God rebuking David for mourning the loss of his son, when his son was evil, attempting to destroy his own father and mocking God in His actions.
When we defend the wicked person who is a relative, while caring nothing about the victims of our children, then we are acting in arrogant pride, based on blood rather than righteousness. We ought never to defend wicked people merely because they are relatives. We must always take the side of the victims and innocence no matter who they are. If we lose the love, attentions and companionship of wicked relatives then we are better for it. May our actions be always toward God and not human companions, no matter what the cost.
2 Samuel 18:33 "33 Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: “O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!”
2 Samuel 19:1-8 "19 And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”
2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3 And the people stole back into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
5 Then Joab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines,
6 in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well.
7 Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.”
8 Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.” So all the people came before the king.
For everyone of Israel had fled to his tent."
2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3 And the people stole back into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
5 Then Joab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines,
6 in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well.
7 Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.”
8 Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.” So all the people came before the king.
For everyone of Israel had fled to his tent."
The Choir Has Many Pretenders
I meet many people who know the Bible, claim to be believers but hold contempt in their hearts for anyone who will correct them. The church as a whole is apostate, wanting to "appear spiritual" without actually having a relationship with Christ, while spurning His Word, twisting it, using it to suit themselves. There is no real love for the brethren, only a deep sense of desire to control others, dwells in their hearts. Their mentor is not Christ however their mentor is the devil.
These people say they are Christians, but you will never hear them say outright, "I love Christ." They will never use terms like "I follow Christ", "I am born again by the blood of Christ" or "I was once evil and lost but have been changed into a new creation by Christ."
When we see generic descriptions of what people think they are, the same terminology the world uses, without a fervor for the Savior, I always wonder about their salvation.
These people seem embarrassed at the mention of Christ and are deeply offended when challenged according to His Word. They argue, fight and demean others to remain superior to them, never seeming to admit they need growth like all of us, they have an elevated opinion of themselves, showing a lack of humility or desire to learn beyond what they already think they know. They never apologize nor do they ever admit their sin or error.
Someone challenged me that I was always speaking to the "choir", that may be true, but my view is that many in the choir are not the choir at all, but pretenders, they need to hear the gospel all over again because they have heard, but not received.
John 1:12; 3:14-16, 36; 5:24; 6:40-47; Acts 16:30, 31; Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8, 9.
Matthew 21:43; 22:10-14; 24:45-51; 25:1-20; Luke 12:42-48; 19:11-27; Galatians 5:19-21; Hebrews 2:1-4; 4:1-11; 6:1-6; 10:25-31; 12:14-17; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-29; 3:5, 12, 21; 19:7-9.
These people say they are Christians, but you will never hear them say outright, "I love Christ." They will never use terms like "I follow Christ", "I am born again by the blood of Christ" or "I was once evil and lost but have been changed into a new creation by Christ."
When we see generic descriptions of what people think they are, the same terminology the world uses, without a fervor for the Savior, I always wonder about their salvation.
These people seem embarrassed at the mention of Christ and are deeply offended when challenged according to His Word. They argue, fight and demean others to remain superior to them, never seeming to admit they need growth like all of us, they have an elevated opinion of themselves, showing a lack of humility or desire to learn beyond what they already think they know. They never apologize nor do they ever admit their sin or error.
Someone challenged me that I was always speaking to the "choir", that may be true, but my view is that many in the choir are not the choir at all, but pretenders, they need to hear the gospel all over again because they have heard, but not received.
John 1:12; 3:14-16, 36; 5:24; 6:40-47; Acts 16:30, 31; Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8, 9.
Matthew 21:43; 22:10-14; 24:45-51; 25:1-20; Luke 12:42-48; 19:11-27; Galatians 5:19-21; Hebrews 2:1-4; 4:1-11; 6:1-6; 10:25-31; 12:14-17; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-29; 3:5, 12, 21; 19:7-9.
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