Why The Presidential Election Is An Indictment Against The Church

Why The Presidential Election Is An Indictment Against The Church

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7SjzCY_-qk

Praying Salvation For Family Members Who Think They are Saved but May not be!

I want all my family members to be born again, in order for this to happen they must understand the difference between cultural Christianity and the born again experience by the hand of God.

Ephesians 2:8-9

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Far too many people say they have been saved by grace but live as though Christ has no part in their salvation. They elevate themselves as special because of their own goodness. These people cannot be saved.

Salvation comes when a person confesses their sinfulness and wants to be cleansed by Christ. This will produce someone who is not embarrassed to speak of Christ and all His principles. It produces loving humility, not the kind that is worked at in the flesh but genuine heart humility they don't have to concoct.

We do not see many of these because in the last days there will be few. God said it would be as in the days of Noah when no one would listen even having their own form of religion, but not born again.

Proverbs 29:1

"He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.

Those who are stiffnecked need a little stronger discipline than the compliant heart. They are in danger of God's punishment in ways they had never expected.

Those who are pretenders think since people cannot prove their covert acts of meanness then God does not see it. They believe they can make up their own righteousness according to their own thoughts. Any challenge to them to check with God is met with anger and revenge.

Praying for those who believe they are saved but have never been born again. Those who become angry at this challenge are probably the ones who need saving.

Matthew 7:21-23 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"

I know there is no one who wants to hear these frightening words on the day of judgment; "I NEVER KNEW YOU."

The Addiction of Self Love

We speak of substance addiction often in the lives of people that are being destroyed by it, but there is another addiction that is growing and much more subtle.

That is the addiction to the love of self. More people are determined to preserve their elevated view of themselves without regard to spiritual or emotional growth.

They only care that they appear special, not that they do what is right. In order to do what is right, one must think the right way, that is scriptural.

This addiction to the "love of self" creates broken relationships and destroyed families. It leaves victims without support as well as further victimizing them through the lies narcissists tell to keep themselves in a superior status with those who have little to no discernment.

The narcissist does not even recognize when they are destroying families and what harms him as well as the relationships, he is only focused on whether or not he won for the moment. He counts it a win when his target is weeping and devastated, using this opportunity to further abuse. The farther down the narcissist can take his target the more powerful he feels.

Truth is not important to the narcissist, only winning over others, even if it takes sinning against God to accomplish this. God is only a tool to the narcissist. He will use God to appear special and holy while defying all of God's principles for life. The modern church is full of this kind of people. They have no interest in being holy or growing emotionally or Spiritually, they only want to seem like it.

I have met more narcissists who were pretenders in the church in my life than I have experience mature and loving born again believers. I am thankful that I have met lovely godly people, had I not met these people I might wonder if there was anyone left who is authentic.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 is a picture of the end times church. They have a form of religion but it's all about superficial appearance without substance.

"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,

4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these."

Think about it!!!! In the church: "haters of good", "lovers of self", read the rest of the traits, they are beyond ugly they are demonic. When we realize these are the traits in the end times church we can see how the world is marching quickly toward the antichrist rule.

We don't need to see the "mark" of the beast or the ruling in Jerusalem, we can see clearly what the heart of the last days will be like, deeply selfish and demonically inspired.

It makes sense that these kinds of people in the church would be deceived by an antichrist, of which there are many. They have been deceived into believing they are good while possessing all these evil character qualities.

Do not become depressed over this, it has nothing to do with you. This is not personal with narcissists, they would act like this toward anyone they cannot personally control. Control is what the narcissist is all about, without it they become very angry and vengeful.

Romans 12:1-21

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ..."

Let God be in control of your life, not the narcissist!

Reconciliation in Relationships

I have spoken with divorced people who say they regretted the divorce but it was too late to fix it since their spouse remarried. If people would not remarry after divorce there could be reconciliation down the road when a couple learns they were hasty and immature in their pursuit of something better.

It isn't marrying young that is the problem, people are waiting longer to marry and still divorcing. The problem is the cultural influence that promotes doing whatever you want no matter who you hurt.

There is no longer a sense of making anything work through dialogue and understanding. With the increase in narcissistic thinking, most people are more dedicated to being seen as special without a sense that they need to grow in maturity.

They will defend violently their sin while engaging in wrong attitudes that justify it.

The Stiff-Necked Will Be Destroyed

"…8 Mockers inflame a city, but the wise turn away anger. 9 If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.10 Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life.…"

We are living in very "stiff-necked" times in which most people want to think well of themselves becoming enraged at the suggestion that something about them needs to change.

An attempt to resolve a problem with a narcissist is the same as attempting to resolve a problem with a fool, therefore it is possible the narcissist is a fool.

Matthew 7:6

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."

God's answer to the wise is to avoid conversation with fools, they have no interest in resolving anything. Relationships are not important to them, only preserving their elevated view of themselves. God must be the One to work in their lives without us.

Proverbs 18:6-8 "…6A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. 7A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.…"

When a fool cannot convince you he is special and always right he will attempt to make others see you the way he wishes to see you. This person turns friends and family against their targets, the ones who call them out on their sin, the one who has discovered what they are.

Psalm 140:9

"As for the head of those who surround me, May the mischief of their lips cover them."

Proverbs 10:14

"The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool invites destruction."

The fool believes he is getting away with something when he has perceived himself to win an argument if the only way he did was to intimidate their target into silence. What the fool does not realize is that God sees everything all the time. He protects the righteous and brings judgement to the fool.

Psalm 94:23

"He will bring upon them their own iniquity and destroy them for their wickedness. The LORD our God will destroy them."

No one who harms a born again believer will get away with it. Even if it seems as though they did in this life, in eternity they will be judged and pay the price for their attack on believers unless they repent.

Proverbs 12:1-2 "1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. 2 The good man obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a man who devises evil.…" Reconciliation can only happen when the offending party confesses to be cleansed and is sorry for offending.

God's Role for Woman

In a discussion this morning with a Christian sister who had posted some things about being a homemaker, I shared some of my own thoughts and experiences.

The Proverbs 31 woman was very industrious, I admired her and wanted to be like her. The list for all the kinds of things I did would be very long. I was never bored, however, at times I was lonely because the other women in the neighborhood were all at work during the day. I had no one to visit with most of the time. I don't regret doing that difficult and diverse job of managing the household.

One thing that was hard at times was at extended holiday family gatherings the women were all boasting about their jobs and treating me like I was invisible. They were not interested ever in the things I was doing but loved talking about their own jobs. I never seemed to fit in anywhere. Nor was there any interest shown in me as a person. In our modern culture the homemaker has been looked down upon, it never made sense because the homemaker has a big job and is constantly busy if she does it according to Scripture.

The homemakers I have met over the years were educated intelligent women who made the choice to care for their families but were viewed by career women as less intelligent, in my case even mocked at times.

One of the sad things about the culture we live in is that many women think a woman who stays at home must be there because she can't do anything else and that she is lazy. This could not be farther from the truth for those who are diligent about the job of CEO of their homes it is just as, perhaps more challenging than going to an office to type and file papers for someone else all day.

If the homemaker had been a housekeeper and nanny for a wealthy prominent family she would have been seen as having a career, but when she does that same job for her own family without a paycheck, she is seen as less intelligent.

Satan lied to women, he told them there is no fulfillment in the home when just the opposite is true. He took them from their families to gain a paycheck and perceived prestige leaving each one in the household to fend for themselves.

Proverbs 31:"10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."

Water Off a Duck's Back

If we are deceived by anything it is because we love the deception. Everyone can ask God to show them the truth and He will do it. I have asked people to pray about what they think and do only to be met with anger that I would suggest it.

Most people in our day are deeply invested in feeling good about themselves and superior to others. They do not want to know the truth about their inner heart, they want only to feel wonderful about themselves.

Those who have desired truth above padding their ego will be the ones who grow in holiness. The others remain spiritual and emotional infants their entire lives. These people cannot be born again because in order to be born again we must see the sin in ourselves to confess it.

1 John 1:9 "1 John 1:9

"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Those who will not confess will always see others as the problem, never themselves. They will justify their sin or deny it completely in order to maintain their elevated view of self.

Luke 18:9-14

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

"9 Now He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:

10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11 The Pharisee stood and began praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’

13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’

14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

We can tell who is a Pharisee by the way they boast about their own accomplishments regularly, They cannot have a conversation without mentioning all the things they do, the places they go, and the people they know. They are never satisfied just obeying Christ, even when they fall they readily and easily admit it and confess to be cleansed.

The Pharisees will not confess, they will not admit their harm to others nor will they believe they have done anything wrong when confronted by others over their offense. They are hell-bent on defending their sin with excuses or lies saying they didn't do it at all.

When we see this happening there is nothing we can do to help. They will never come to repentance until the Holy Spirit convicts them of their sinful attitude.

James 5:16 "16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."

Then, of course, we have the tactics of the narcissist who will accuse us of what they are doing and we are not. If they can divert the attention from them by making us the bad one, they will do this and as often as they are confronted with their sin. They never admit to anything authentically. If they do admit to anything it's because they are tired of the conflict and must do it to get things back to normal. They are never broken in their spirit over their sin, apologizing is a manipulation to the narcissist.

We have all met people like this, however, in our day people rarely get close enough to others to discover the hidden side of the narcissist. They keep it well under wraps for most people except those who are close to them. Sadly too, extended family will not know these things nor would they believe the victim because the narcissist is careful to treat others outside the family good, hiding their real selves.

Those who are victims of a narcissist must learn to keep their feelings to themselves while ignoring the rudeness of the narcissist. It sometimes takes a lifetime of abuse before one can master this self-control, but God can help anyone who will seek Him. If you fail for a moment and fall into the trap of answering back a narcissist, do not beat yourself up, just get up and begin again with the proper response.

When we know we cannot change others and that narcissists often never change, the victims must get on with their lives depending on the Holy Spirit to remove from them the desire to teach the narcissist anything, they will refuse to learn. However, God is bigger than we are and can do things better than we can.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

Difficult Times Will Come

"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,

4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

5 holding to a form of [b]godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these."

2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but having itching ears, they shall heap to themselves teachers in accordance with their own lusts."

We have many of these narcissists in church gatherings today. They will hang tightly to their human traditions and persecute the authentic believer for exposing them for what they are, that is worthless traditions. Using the Bible to expose the actions of a narcissist often enrages them. They will begin their personal attacks diverting the attention from their own sin. If they can discredit your character then they have the sense they don't have to listen to you at all anymore.

Luke 21:16-17 "…16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. 17 And you will be hated by everyone because of My name."

Prepare yourselves for the vitriolic diatribe from those who love their human traditions over the truth of the Bible.

The devil is the accuser of the brethren, he goes before the Father every day accusing God's people of things that are not true, attempting to influence God to discard His people. The narcissist does this in family dynamics too. The reason is simple, the people are being influenced by the devil himself. The reason we see so many narcissists who don't even know one another using the exact same verbiage as those they do not know is because it is the devil placing these ideas and words in their mouths.

Remember when Christ rebuked the devil when Peter spoke things he should not have spoken? Christ looked right at Peter and said this; "get thee behind me Satan." Interestingly, Christ did not address Peter at all, He addressed the devil who was using Peter's mouth.

This is what we are dealing with in narcissists, the devil is using their mouths. Sadly we must admit narcissists have increased exponentially in the world as the devil influences more and more people in these last days.

The 2 Timothy 3 passage is describing the church, these are people who "have a form of religion" but have no interest in God. They want His protection, His blessings of health and wealth but they do not want Him.

This seems frightening to many who might read it, but remember we must admit to it before we can know how to live with it in the world.

Colossians 2:8

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."

2 Timothy 3:13

"While evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived."

Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"

When we know the truth and who is behind all this we can trust in Christ more and refuse to be sucked into their ways.

Titus 3:3-7

"For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Before we were born again we thought the same way as the narcissist, but after we were born again our eyes were opened that we could see what most people cannot see.

We must pray for the narcissist to repent, in order for this to happen the Holy Spirit must work on them in His own way causing them to see their need for Him. We cannot do this, there is a point at which we must stop talking or reacting and begin trusting the Holy Spirit.

As we used to hear in school many years ago, we must ignore the attacks like water off a ducks back. Nothing they do will stick to us or cause us to become like them, which is, by the way, the devil's goal. This is not easy, it takes prayer and lots of silence, don't beat yourself up if you fail, just get up and begin again trusting Christ.

The devil is more interested in causing the believer to fall into sin, he already has the unbeliever.