The Age of Deceit - Part 3 - Ron Matsen

The Age of Deceit - Part 1 - Ron Matsen

The Age of Deceit - Part 2 - Ron Matsen

The greatest lies the devil tells is that "God didn't really say that." He puts wrong beliefs in the minds of many people who end up teaching the opposite of what God said and claiming it came from God.

When we attempt to bring truth to "Christians' who have heard the wrong teaching they become angry because they like the version the devil gave them. We see this with the twisted view of forgiveness the psychologists have taught for 50 years. We see this in the twisted view of divorce and remarriage that has been taught also as long. We see this in the very structure of the church that defies God's order in favor of human concoctions of hierarchy that God never gave.

There are many violations of the Bible in most church gatherings today and virtually no on in them who will be able to see the truth because the error is so widespread and seems to be working for them. We live in a culture that thinks as long as it works it doesn't matter if God likes it or not. The apostate condition of the church in these end times leaves the people in the pews beggarly and rebellious thinking they are righteous.

The Way We Think

The WAY we think determines the WAY we act. We cannot think differently from the things that we do.

Philippians 2:5 "Philippians 2:5-" Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,"

1 John 1:6-7 " 6 If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.…"

Those who defend their sin, refuse to correct their bad behavior and disrespectful words cannot be born again. The Holy Spirit would make their sin known to them to cause shame. Those who rage to defend sin are not born again no matter what they say.

Matthew 7:16-20 "16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."

God told us the character qualities of the born-again believer. He showed us through our own born-again experience what an authentic born-again believer looks like.

We must stop giving people excuses for unrepentant sin by saying "no one knows the heart but God", this is true and yet He imparted to us through the Holy Spirit the mind of Christ to be able to discern those who belong to Christ and those who do not.

We cannot know who is going to heaven or hell because we do not know the future, but we can warn people to repent that if they died in the rebellion against Christ they will go to hell.

Warnings are good, they are loving and kind. What is not loving and kind is to watch someone ruin their life and their eternity because of their rebellion and not warn them.

Jude 1:22-24 "…22 And indeed, have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh. 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—"

The Competitive Cook!

The tactics of a narcissist can be very subtle, even causing guilt in us when the guilt should really be on them. Here is a little story that demonstrates this principle.

I knew of a woman who would leave out an ingredient when someone would ask her for the recipe for her special dish.

When anyone would ask for the recipe from something she made this woman would leave out one ingredient so that no one else would be able to make the dish as well as she had made it. She did this openly, even telling people she did this.

This same woman would ask for someone else's recipe and make sure they did not leave out an ingredient. She expected others to give her what she would not give them, the entire recipe so that everyone could enjoy making a special dish.

Leaving out a piece of a recipe is a small matter we can all laugh off, perhaps even replacing the missing ingredient with something else, its really not very important to us. However, the fact that someone feels a need to leave out an ingredient does demonstrate a character flaw in those who are worried about being special and superior.

Normal secure people when asked for a recipe would be flattered and happy to make sure the one receiving the recipe would know exactly how it was made so her product could turn out as good as she thought her friends was. The purpose of giving the recipe was so that her friend could enjoy the dish at home the same way she enjoyed it at her friends home.

Sadly, the narcissist wants to make sure no one can do something as well or better than they can. If they cannot be superior they feel inferior.

When a believer is secure within themselves without competition toward others they are free to share anything they have without worry about someone else matching pitch with them or even excelling over them.

When we love someone we want them to succeed in all that they do. We have no concern that they may surpass us in a skill or accomplishment, we are happy for them when they have achieved something that brings them joy. We are even secure enough to say to our friend, "you are better at this than I was", with a sense of glee.

The born-again believer has great joy when others succeed, even relishing the accomplishment with those they love.

Colossians 3:12-14

12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. 14 In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity."

What a blessed day it will be when we are all at the marriage supper of the Lamb enjoying one another without jealousy and competitiveness. Only pure love and encouragement will be at this special feast.

Proverbs 18:24

"24 A person of too many friends comes to [a]ruin,

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

The one who enjoys your accomplishments is rare indeed, he/she is the one who will stick by you in thick and thin. Hallelujah!