Christ Must Do It In Us

The false doctrine that one can lose their salvation is becoming common now in these last days of apostasy, that one can lose what they never earned simply by doing a sin. Eternal Security is not Calvin's invention, God promised us that we became a new creation and that He changed us into it, we never changed ourselves and our own works to do save us or keep us. We repented and chose Christ but He did all the work in us.

Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Ephesians 1:13-14 "13 And in Him you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, having heard and believed the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. 14 The Spirit is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.…"

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 "17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"

1 Corinthians 6:10-11 "…10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

2 Corinthians 2:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"

We never turned ourselves into a new creation when we were born again, God did that to us when we wanted Him to cleanse us and change us.

If anyone is attempting to keep their salvation by works or thinks they earned it by their works, then they have a false religion of works, not at all the gospel of peace and hope. All the pagan religions believe they have to work their way to heaven, that if they slip up they will lose the salvation.

God said our works are as filthy rags, no one can do anything to gain salvation and no sin will lose it for them. Our Spirit is changed but we are trapped in this body of sin.

When we sin God disciplines those who are His, as a father disciplines His children.

Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"

God tells those who belong to Him to confess their sin to be cleansed.

1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

When we become born again it is because we wanted God to make us into a new creation. We had no ability to make ourselves anything, our hearts were bent toward sin, our only hope was that God would do a work in us.

When we changed our mind about our sin, becoming convicted of it by the prompting of the Holy Spirit, not resisting Him, but submitting to the conviction, then is when we confessed what we were, sinful and helpless to be anything else, only then will Christ change our heart into what it should be. He changed our heart and our spirit into His Spirit when we trusted Him.

If someone is still trusting their own heart to do right on any level, they will not be accepted by God and often revert back to the old nature, rather than growing in holiness they will regress in sinfulness, remaining arrogant about their perceived goodness, while heaping upon themselves judgement for their self righteousness.

Those who cannot admit when they sin are still in their sin, they cannot confess because they have not been changed. As believers we are confessing and being cleansed all our lives, hating the sin that remains in our bodies as the Spirit within us guides us.

One cannot come in the back door to Christ, they must have a change of mind toward their sinfulness, confessing it desiring to be cleansed. Those who have not done this are not saved. Those who are attempting to build themselves into a new creation by their own effort are not saved. They have only superficial veneer that is slathered over themselves to hide the real them.

Matthew 23:27-28 "27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity. 28 In the same way, you appear to be righteous on the outside, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."

If you want to become born again, you must confess that you are a helpless sinner without the ability to change yourself while asking Christ to change you. As you trust Christ and believe that He paid the penalty for your sin, then you will be changed into that new creation.

Remember we have to want it, grieve over what we are, confess it to God and then He does all the work in us. This passages in Ephesians bares repeating one more time.

Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

They are Back in the Land Hallelujah!!!

Hallelujah!!! We watched prophesy being fulfilled in 1948!!!!! They are back in their land and prophesy is progressing right on schedule.
Follow the Link:

https://www.facebook.com/WeAreTheJews/videos/836797229760067/?hc_ref=ARQO9qL8AutQSvIKHS5XAoQi6mds1GRFXBa6Oh_Xza1pwBgR4Uip_keBPCwscanPhrA

Love is Clearly Seen

1 John 4:16
"So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."

1 John 4:8
"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Zephaniah 3:17
"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."

Romans 8:37-39
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Galatians 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Loving Them From Afar

We can love people from afar as we pray for them. The Bible is full of commands and instructions about not keeping company with those who have heard the gospel and will not obey. God doesn't need us to influence them, He can do it all by Himself and with others.

Christ was not honored in His own town among His own family either, we can expect the same thing. There is freedom in following Christ without the continual drama and foolishness that comes with superficial and unsaved family. Such peace came over my soul when I decided it was time to exit family gatherings. Now I desire to be in fellowship with those who love the Lord.

If the Lord brings someone into my life temporarily for His purpose, one of those who has rejected Him and me, then I will engage, but not just because family pressures me to do so.

Most Christians today are not obeying Christ even though they say they read the Bible, they disobey most of it, because they want to seem superior in knowing the Bible, but care little about loving Christ or the Brethren.

What is Love

What is love? Love is deeply caring about the spiritual well being of those we love, far more than their physical. We care about all of it, but the most important is the spiritual.

Luke 10:26-28
"…26 “What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.”…"

John 13:34-35
"…34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

2 Corinthians 7:1-2
"1 Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one."

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."

The Act of Hate: Gaslighting

If you have been involved with narcissists, perhaps a family of origin or extended family, you will recognize the tactics they use written in the following article. I am intimately familiar with these thing having been spiritually and emotionally abused for many years by mother, father and brothers and now others who have listened to their gossip.

The 2 Timothy 3 generation is with us now, practically on steroids.

Thankfully with the Lord's guidance and help we do not have to live in the shadow of the narcissist, we can remove ourselves and live a joyous and productive life as we eliminate those who do not love us or our God.
When we know we are dealing with the devil's influence we recognize the source knowing he hates us because he hates God. Its not about us at all, it about the devil's domination over those he controls.

Follow the link to find the artcile: 

https://www.healthyplace.com/abuse/emotional-psychological-abuse/gaslighting-definition-techniques-and-being-gaslighted/

The Cultic Family System

I am convinced that we cannot follow Christ fully until we have let go of relatives and the whole cultic system of family. Seldom does anyone come from an entire extended family that is Christian, mostly there are one or two in every system and the rest are unsaved or superficial ones who are stubborn, but that's just my personal experience.

Until we can release family to God and move on hard after Christ, we will be stunted in our growth.

Someone speaking to Christ said this: read His answer to them.

Matthew 12:47-49 "…47 Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.” 48 But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” 49 Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers.…"

Legalists Falsely Judge Others

Legalists often judge marriages of others based on their own understanding of submission that is not Biblical. They threaten husbands who do not oppress their wives as well as placing pressure on women to be non-entities, non-thinkers. I have been in these oppressive environments with arrogant self righteous people, they have no joy and the love is not God's love, it is only acceptance if one follows their dress code or perfection according to them.

Many in these gatherings are obeying the rules but it is not an indication of holiness or righteousness. One lady told me she was so happy that people stopped her on the street to ask her to pray for them because of the way she was dressed. She was proud of this, and yet that same woman was divorced and remarried in violation of God's Word. The outer appearance takes center stage over the inner heart condition.

Legalists often spend more time assessing others than they do evaluating their own heart. After all, if they do all the right things according to their cult, on the outside, they can easily hide what is going on inside.

Beware of trusting someone merely because of their style of dress, it can be a smoke screen, hiding the real them. The Holy Spirit can help us discern the spirit of a person, we must not accept someone merely because of their outward appearance.

Matthew 23:26-28 "…26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity. 28 In the same way, you appear to be righteous on the outside, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.…"

The Flesh Reveals the Spiritual

A discerning spiritual person can see the fleshly expressions of the heart in the body. Scientists now call them "micro-expressions", I witnessed this just recently when I could see the anger in the body language and expressions in the face of someone, but they were pretending not to be angry.

Hebrews 5:13-14 "…13 Everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their sensibilities to distinguish good from evil."

His verbal response to me gave Him away quickly, before that he was trying to hide the anger and even accused me of anger, which is a favored tactic of the narcissist. They accuse others of their own responses, to deflect any accountability from themselves.

Have you ever been talking to someone and something just seemed a little off, as though you were sensing something was wrong but couldn't quite put your finger on it? That was an unconscious awareness of micro-expressions. The face, the body and the head movements tell us about the inner spirit of someone. We cannot know perfectly WHAT is wrong, but we are warned that SOMETHING is wrong.

The Pharisees used these same tactics against Christ. They said he was doing His miracles by the power of the devil, when they were of the devil themselves.

If the devil will use these tactics in the day of the apostles they will certainly use them now, even more so as the day approaches for the return of Christ.

John 8:40-44 (NASB)
"40 But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. 41 You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.
43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.
44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

The Demons of Narcissism

Welcome to the world I have lived in nearly all my life. The narcissists in my family of origin managed to triangulate, not necessarily by words but by their responses to me, their contempt to others about me. There will be those who have been golden children who will not understand, even engaging in the abuse with the narcissists.

Often the tactics of the narcissist is subtle, its in the way they relate to their target, sending the message to others their contempt. Flying monkeys often imitate the narcissist without even knowing why. 

Thankfully with the Lord's guidance and help we do not have to live in the shadow of the narcissist, we can remove ourselves and live a joyous and productive life as we eliminate those who do not love us or our God.

When we know we are dealing with the devil's influence we recognize the source knowing he hates us because he hates God. Its not about us at all, it about the devil's domination over those he controls.
All of these things are done in the mind of the people through demonic influence.

Follow the Link:https://www.healthyplace.com/abuse/emotional-psychological-abuse/gaslighting-definition-techniques-and-being-gaslighted/

Only One Sin Keeps People Out of Heaven

Everyone has enough sin in their lives to keep them out of heaven. It doesn't matter whether someone is law abiding and respected in the community, if they have pride that is enough to keep them out of heaven, unless they have trusted Christ and are changed into a new creation.

The intensity of the sin and consequences does not determine our salvation experience. All have sinned and fall short, even those who think they have never done the big stuff.

A Controlling Attitude is a Demonstration of Lack of Faith

Those who lack faith "control." When leaders in the church make rules that are not in the Bible simply to keep the people under control, they cannot be trusting the Holy Spirit.

It is better to allow people to be what they are so we can see the real them and guide them.

When superficial unbiblical rules are made to control the outside of a person, all we do is make them more clever about hiding anything inside that is not acceptable. This is when we see pretense, people who walk around acting superior while raging contempt dwells inside.

Many of these people are in the churches today, they hide all their flaws rather than confessing them to be cleansed. They continue in phony goodness without ever growing past infancy in their spiritual immaturity.

Pretending to be good on the outside does not fool God, all it serves to do is make superficial people feel satisfied with deceiving others, they feel no need for growing in holiness.

These people are often fixated on the flaws of others while ignoring their own. They punish those who don't follow their rules and show contempt when we don't agree about something that has nothing to do with sin.

Unfortunately legalists assign the title of sin to things that are not sin at all, but just their own idea of righteousness. They judge others harshly but never judge themselves.

1 Corinthians 3:30-32 "…30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.…"

Matthew 23:27 "27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity. "

The church pretenders have all kinds of judgments for everyone but themselves as they waltz through life feeling superior and worthy of praise.

1 John 1:8-10 "…8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…"

These self righteous types quote scripture out of context often to justify their high opinion of themselves.

Matthew 23:4-6 "…4 They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,…"

As we can see from the Word, things have not changed very much. Christ set us free from human domination, each one who is born again is worthy to speak freely, act as directed by the Holy Spirit, while being free to ignore those who would attempt to control us through human wisdom and intimidation.

May the Holy Spirit in us remain more powerful than any intimidation of human beings, in these last days of deceit.

If You Think You Have No Sin

John 1:8-10
"8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."

He Prays on Our Behalf

Christ in us does our worshiping and praying for us when we express a desire and allow the words to come, they are just not adequate. I am thankful that Christ in me knows exactly what we should pray, even knowing the desire of our heart that lines up with His desires.

John 17:20-23 (NASB)
20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may [a]believe that You sent Me.

Their Future Glory
22 The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected [b]in unity, so that the world may [c]know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me."

Romans 8:26-27 " 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. 27 And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.…"

Waiting Somewhat Impatiently, Maranatha!

The Believers who are awaiting the rapture!

What should be our response as we move through this end times church age?

1 Peter 2 (NASB)
As Newborn Babes
2 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,
2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

As Living Stones
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For this is contained in Scripture:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone,
And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
“The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the very corner stone,”
8 and,
“A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”;
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation."

Evolution the Lie of the Centuries

Evolution is far more "faith based" than Christianity. Christianity is based on solid physical evidence of a Creator God. Evolution is based on one man's idea of something that has no physical evidence, it is entirely faith based. The evolutionists manage to create false evidence, but it is easily refuted.

The Devil and His Thoughts

The devil places thoughts so intense that the mind believes they have been there when they never left their beds. Remember when the devil took Christ to the mountain and showed Him the kingdoms of the world, it was all in the mind.

Remember the alien abductions? Those are all demonic experiences so vivid and real that the people really believe they left their houses, but they never did.

Matthew 4:8-9 "8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”…"

Damascus is Falling

My friend Carole sent this map in the comments, I thought it would be good to put it here for others to see.

Isaiah 17:1-2 "1 The oracle concerning Damascus. "Behold, Damascus is about to be removed from being a city And will become a fallen ruin. 2 "The cities of Aroer are forsaken; They will be for flocks to lie down in, And there will be no one to frighten them.…"
Follow the Link to see the Map!https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1869608009738116&set=p.1869608009738116&type=3&theater

Going Home Soon!

For all you born again, Bible believing prophesy watchers, Damascus is about to become a ruinous heap just as prophesied.

America has Offended God

A dear friend shared this passage in an e-mail with me, I thought it was profound for our day, I felt led to share it here.
Perhaps it is possible that God is as angry with America and even the world, as He was during the time of Isaiah. If so, then we are in for some rough times.

Isaiah 65:1-7
"1 "I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, 'Here am I, here am I.'
2 All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations-
3 a people who continually provoke me to my very face, offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on altars of brick;
4 who sit among the graves and spend their nights keeping secret vigil; who eat the flesh of pigs, and whose pots hold broth of impure meat;
5 who say, 'Keep away; don't come near me, for I am too sacred for you!' Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day.
6 "See, it stands written before me: I will not keep silent but will pay back in full; I will pay it back into their laps-
7 both your sins and the sins of your ancestors," says the Lord. "Because they burned sacrifices on the mountains and defied me on the hills, I will measure into their laps the full payment for their former deeds."

Seek to be like Christ

Who do you want to please, Christ or man?

You cannot do both. The world is full of people who want you to be like them. Stop trying to be like others and seek to follow Christ.

Philippians 3:7-10
"7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;"

Beware of False Teachers

I learned recently that there are "pastors" who are implementing Catholic doctrine and practices in the protestant churches, in an attempt to join with the Catholic church without actually telling their congregations that it is happening.

There have been two testimonies lately that this is happening, but it shouldn't be a big surprise, the holidays that began in the Catholic church, that is Easter, Christmas and Halloween, are widely practiced by most protestant and non-denominational churches today. Some are even introducing these churches to the "advent wreath" that is a leader to Lent.

The problem is that most Christians today don't know their Bibles and they don't know what is wrong about the Catholic church, so they are going to slide right into the deception with ease.

Ritual that was widely rejected by "Evangelicals" and Reform churches are going back to the very system that they ran from so many years ago.

When our culture is more invested in feelings than facts, they will argue to preserve the traditions that are not Biblical but that make everyone "feel spiritual."

Truth is not the goal of many gatherings today, only pleasure, feelings of euphoria and happiness.

1 Thessalonians 5:21
"21 but test everything; hold fast what is good."

The church hierarchy is not the authority on truth, God is the authority, Christ lives in believers and enlightens those who search the Bible for their truth.

Do not fall into the trap that leadership dictates principles and practice, they do not, it is Christ Who set them down, preserving them in His Word forever.

1 Peter 1:24-25 "…24 For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was proclaimed to you."

The Catholic system as all of the cults are false systems, distractions of the devil that will lead many to hell.

Keep the Focus and Stay on the Path

Keeping our focus on Christ will keep us from becoming stuck in victim mode when we have been treated shamefully. It is alright to tell the truth about what we have been through, even evaluating it to gain wisdom about it, but we cannot make the perpetrators the focus so much as the lessons learned. The perp has won when they are on our minds more than Christ and more than healing.

Christ didn't keep his mind on those who rejected Him, He was squarely fixated on His mission here, that was to come and preach the gospel of hope and die for the sins of the world.

Colossians 3:2-10
"2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,
7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,
10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him."

I write a lot about narcissism and the tricks of their trade, the purpose is to know the schemes of the devil and learn God's power to live for Him in spite of the attacks.

It is never valuable to live in victim mode all our lives. It is powerful to move forward with Christ and our spiritual healing and growth, never allowing the past to have control over us.

If anyone had a reason to refuse to go to the cross to pay for the sins of mankind, Christ did. He had a mission, no matter how He was treated His gaze was stayed on what He came to do, no one debilitated Him from His goal. Just as we must stay focused on what God gave us to do, without wavering, leaving behind those who do not want to walk the path with us.

Hallelujah!!!!

Obey God or Do It Yourself?

I am reminded that "my methods" are not what brings people to Christ, all I am is the messenger, God uses it when we cannot see.

Never count on human "methods" to lead someone to Christ. Just obey the Holy Spirit and leave all the results to God.

1 Corinthians 3:6-8 "…6 I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.…"

Just keep going, don't allow anyone else tell you "how" you should do it, except the Holy Spirit. All of man's efforts to help God out in evangelism have been failures, because they were fleshly and not Spirit led. We know this because of the apostate condition of the gatherings today.

The Expectations

I find it interesting that non-believers have a higher expectation of believers than they have for themselves. Sort of amusing because they really do practice the hypocrisy they accuse others of.

We do not claim to be perfect as believers, we claim to be saved by the blood in spite of our imperfections. The non-believer knows they are not perfect but will not admit it, the believer knows they are not perfect but have trusted the promises of God that He will make us and grow us into His image.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NASB)
"'8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

Dominance and Intimidation is Sin

The problem with "group think" is that one must leave behind their own God given personality to become a clone of others.

Sadly far more people do this "group think" than those who who take the time to ponder the value of something. When we evaluate things we are more likely to use rational and responsible ways of dealing with life experiences.

God told us to become like minded as Christians, but that does not mean that we blindly follow anyone except Christ. It means that we each evaluate where something is truth or error together and come to a conclusion embracing truth.

In "group think" most people follow the leader of the pack without questioning. In like mindedness we are all testing things to see if they are of God, in short we are following Christ and sharing our knowledge or wisdom with others.

No one is perceived as better or smarter than anyone else, we all have talents and gifts differing from one another, that enhance the knowledge of others.

Controlling group leaders tend to intimidate others into do what they do, saying what they say while following them around like sad little puppies looking for some hint of approval from the ruler of the pack. The ruler tends to subjugate those in the pack, meaning they bring them under their domination expecting unquestioning obedience to them.

No one should allow anyone else to treat them in this disrespectful manner. God never described leaders in the church as those who dominate and control others through intimidation.

Here's the proof:

Matthew 20:25-28

"25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

God's Definition of Narcissism

God's Definition of a Narcissist: 2 Timothy 3:1-5

"2 Timothy 3:1-5 (KJV)
3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

Every person comes into the world with an over evaluation of self. When we become born again that changes, the Lord puts into us His character, how we relate to others becomes the opposite of our nature bent toward sin. Those who do not change their elevated view of their own importance, have not been born again. In order to become born again one must know they are sinful and want to be changed by Christ. Only then will He change us into a new creation.

Those who claim to be Christians but live as they have always lived, prideful, selfish and mean, have not become born again. They must evaluate themselves in truth, instead of hanging onto fantasies of their own greatness. God will remove from the born again believer any sense of self importance and replace it with compassion and love, toward Him first and then toward others.

"Matthew 22:36-40 (NASB)
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

The Mayo Clinic Definition of a narcissist:

"Signs and symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder and the severity of symptoms vary. People with the disorder can:

Have an exaggerated sense of self-importance
Have a sense of entitlement and require constant, excessive admiration
Expect to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
Exaggerate achievements and talents
Be preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
Believe they are superior and can only associate with equally special people
Monopolize conversations and belittle or look down on people they perceive as inferior
Expect special favors and unquestioning compliance with their expectations
Take advantage of others to get what they want
Have an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
Be envious of others and believe others envy them
Behave in an arrogant or haughty manner, coming across as conceited, boastful and pretentious
Insist on having the best of everything — for instance, the best car or office
At the same time, people with narcissistic personality disorder have trouble handling anything they perceive as criticism, and they can:

Become impatient or angry when they don't receive special treatment
Have significant interpersonal problems and easily feel slighted
React with rage or contempt and try to belittle the other person to make themselves appear superior
Have difficulty regulating emotions and behavior
Experience major problems dealing with stress and adapting to change
Feel depressed and moody because they fall short of perfection
Have secret feelings of insecurity, shame, vulnerability and humiliation"

It is clear that those who walk in pride know something is wrong with them, this is the reason they hide their real selves, they know they are not walking in truth, all their goodness on the outside is not what is going on, in the inside. They have to pretend what they are not, but must also work to hide their authentic self. This suggests to me they know their own sinfulness, but the desire to control others is the dominate sin in their life,that overpowers any desire to be an authentically kind person.

For the narcissists perception is all that matters, authenticity is not very important.

When we become born again we hate those old human traits of selfishness, we are humbled and want to become Christ like. Often the habits of someone will carry over into the born again experience, God will deal with them through humbling experiences that show them a need for confession and transformation.

Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"

The Feelings Deceive

"Feelings are much more powerful than our rational mind."
Isaiah Henkel

This is the reason I am convinced that the devil can create jealousy and angry actions within us during our most emotional times.

"Feelings" come and go, they are not reality or based on facts. Since they can be easily manipulated by others and by difficulties in life, we must make "choices" to evaluate our own feelings to see if they are accurate or something we should ignore entirely.

The evidence that feelings are not accurate is seen when we watch a heart wrenching movie. Sometimes we cry during a movie that has tender or profound events in them, but the story is not real, its acting and has not happened to us, and yet we cry. Our feelings are telling us that the movie events are happening to us, but they are not.

When someones says something to us or does something for us we can interpret what is said or done in terms of our own feelings at the time, often having nothing to do with what was meant by the words or actions of the other person.

When someone is held in low regard or with contempt, everything they do will be seen as bad or stupid. When someone is held in high regard and in godlike status, everything they do will be seen as special and perfect.

If someone is an angry person they may interpret an instruction meant to be helpful, negatively because they are expecting praise, the instruction is perceived as demeaning or mocking when it was not at all intended to convey this.

A joyful person who is not angry or in a bad mood will hear the same instruction as the angry person, but receive it with thanks, feeling the instruction was very helpful.

When pride and jealousy are present in someone, they are far more likely to interpret everything as an insult when it comes from the person for whom they have contempt.

When we can interpret things in truth rather than being led by feelings, we will be able to discern the intent in our interactions with others.

Selfish and indulgent parents who have a "golden child", the favored one who can do no wrong and a "scapegoat child", the one who can do no right, they are interpreting their likes and dislikes toward the children based on their feelings.

No one is all bad or all good, but the selfish parent will believe by their feelings that one child is accepted and the other not, based on how they feel around that child. There can be no sensible and rational evaluation of the needs of the children when they have been assigned roles based on feelings.

The Golden child makes the selfish parent feel special by his continual agreement with the parent. The Scapegoat child is devalued because he has an authentic personality not dictated by what others want him to be. Selfish parents are continually dominated by feelings over reality.

Selfish parents want their children to be just like them, thinking like them, walking like them without a sense of individual personality. Often the favored child becomes a narcissist because he or she is indulged and praised excessively in the family, they grow up to expect this in their adult years.

The scapegoated child is excessively mocked, demeaned and devalued to the point of causing doubt in them, making them believe they are incapable of success.

The subject of this post is mostly concerned with feelings. When we are dominated and motivated by feelings we will not only make mistakes we will destroy relationships and inhibit progress in spiritual growth

The Golden child "feels" a sense of superiority, that in reality does not support reality. His feelings leave him assessing his activities as highly successful when in truth they are not nearly as productive as the golden child chooses to believe.

The Scapegoat child "feels" a sense of inferiority that in reality does not support reality. Often the scapegoat believes their accomplishments are not worthy of mention or encouragement, this is what they have been trained to believe about themselves by narcissistic parents.

When an entire culture has moved from the rational to the irrational, we will see an emphasis on feelings that defy reality. Silly and petty actions and reactions will be the norm, welcome to our world now.

2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."

Jealousy Destroys Relationship and Success

This is a Biblical concept, the idea that we should evaluate ourselves in order to see what needs fixing is pleasing to God. Even asking Him to show us our blind spots will allow us to grow spiritually and emotionally. It is common for relationships to be destroyed because someone is leaning into irrational emotions or jealousy which are not rational. I have been convinced that devils place thoughts in our heads and heighten our emotions to cause us to react in ways that are not only irrational but destructive.

1 Peter 5:7-9 "…7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.…"

Follow the Link:

https://www.facebook.com/isaiahhankelphd/videos/1636249513090983/?hc_ref=ARSA5TKimDoVBcFRsdlcu2a-BLGw9fe7q8qljvroD95oxRc9Rfkn1u9VMWhs73hQYZk

They Attack the Truth Teller

Rebellious hearts are not satisfied with rejecting truth, they must attack the truth teller.

Matthew 5:10-12 "…10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and celebrate, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.…"

Positive Confession, the Lie from Hell

As for positive confession: It is a lie from hell, only God can speak something into existence, man cannot do it.

However, the devil can make things happen that look like miracles from God but are deceptions.

John 8:44-45 "44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!…"

Herds are Easily Picked Off

I like what I heard just recently from a motivational speaker, it sort of tickled me. Loosely translated with my own way of saying it, is in the concept below.

"Herds are easy to pick off, they go the same direction, stay in the same place and copy one another all day long. "

When we say what everyone else says, go where everyone else goes and do what everyone else does, we are not required to think much. As believers in Christ we ought to be challenging one another, when there is a disagreement we are to go to the Word and prayer and come to an agreement on what God is saying. God wants us to be in solidarity as a family, but He does not want us to walk in lock step, that would deny individual gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11
"4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills."

It is in the ability that we have to think for ourselves, evaluate what we have heard, go where God lead us and be willing to embrace change, that brings meaning into our lives. Yes, we love people and want to be with them, but they cannot dictate the decisions for our life. Every believer needs to learn from every other believer, but each must evaluate according to the word anything that is said.

When we are with people, each one thinking for themselves, we can all bring something that benefits the others. If everyone is thinking exactly the same, then there is not much growth in anyone, there is stagnation, even boredom.

Perhaps old people lose their ability to change and grow because they are invested in remaining in a place of safety. When we are in Christ we are not afraid to move to the next thing that God may have for us. Our safety is in trusting in Him.
Hallelujah!!!!

Now go on to seek Christ and learn of His next adventure for you.

Christ Never Quoted Calvin

Do we read anywhere in the Word an account where Jesus Christ or the apostles quoted Calvin, Luther or Constantine? I suggest to you that anyone who quotes from these men are followers of them more than of Christ.

When we are quoting what the apostles said in the Word, we know these are the words of Christ. Not the thoughts and words of mere men.

There is a fleshly competition among arrogant believers to appear superior to others by name dropping in the form of quoting famous people who often had much error in their preaching.

These men may have contributed something to the cause of the gospel but they were not inspired by God. They were not led by the Lord when they developed their own idea of doctrine, adding to the Word through private interpretations. These men even had wicked things they believed and preached that are often ignored. The prideful man loves to elevate certain people while ignoring all their error.

1 Corinthians 3:1-9
"1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.
2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,
3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?
5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building."

To create a denomination based on the teachings of particular men is a direct violation of the commands of Christ in 1 Corinthians 3.

Brothers and Sisters, the elevating of particular men to god like status brings division. When anyone criticizes these idols, those who follow them become angry, hostile and even discard other believers who do not follow the elevated men.

Pride has been the catalyst behind the development of pet doctrines that have been taught as truth that have within them much error.

If anyone wants to walk in truth, they must evaluate everything the men they quote, has done and said, then they might not want to quote them anymore. Only Christ is true and every man a liar. Quoting Jesus Christ coming from the writings inspired in the Bible will bring us truth.

Those who quote men are walking disobediently. Often when this happens, the men are followed more than Christ, there will be extra Biblical assertions that work against the Word of God.

Bottom line: stop looking to men, stop quoting men and begin quoting God, things will take on a different view when it is only Christ we see.

Learn the Way of Salvation

Excellent!!! Christ paid for our future sin centuries before we were ever born. People who believe that our future sins were not paid for are not paying attention to what happened on the cross. Because we have been born again our lifestyle changes, our new hatred toward sin causes us to think and act differently. There will be a change in us that others will notice because we are no longer the same person we were before salvation.

We are told to repent, change our mind toward sin, Christ saves us and after that we confess to be cleansed and grow in holiness.

Follow the Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKn0kLMjhLY

The Deceivers are Busy Again

Once again there has been an infiltrator in the ranks. There are those who are becoming friends with believers posing as Christians to be able to argue against Christ. They are saying He is not God.

The JW's are on the move once again, but instead of showing up at your door they are becoming friends with Christians, pretending they are one of us, to argue against God.

Beware of these people, if you make them your friends unknowingly, as I did, they will be able to reach your friends with their lies as their posts come up in the news feed.

God warned us about these people!

Jude 1:4 "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."

Popularity will Stunt Your Growth

If being popular and loved by people is your goal, then you will be stuck in man's traditions that do not honor God, full of error and spiritual stagnation.

Proverbs 29:25-26 "25 The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted. 26 Many seek the ruler's favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD.…"