Many people are feeling trapped in their relationships but can't seem to break free because of our "just love them" mentality. I am not speaking about breaking free from marriage, that is an entirely different matter. I am talking about relationships in the community or church where something is just ugly but we can't put our finger on it. Here is a possible answer.
When we notice the person we are with, doesn't laugh at our playful jokes, almost never smiles, negates everything we do, ignores us deliberately, demeans our accomplishments, even concocting stories about us to ruin our reputation while acting loving and sweet in the presence of others, we can be sure we are dealing with a narcissist.
The article link takes you to an excellent explanation of what we are dealing with and how damaging it can be. These relationships can even destroy other relationships if we allow the association to continue.
This is the second Timothy 3 crowd. "3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!"
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
What a Demon Possessed Person Looks Like
Here is what demonic activity looks like. Notice the uncontrollable violence, the hissing, growling and verbiage... "Don't let me assume my ultimate form." This woman probably has legions.
Prayer Request
Brothers and Sister, would all you prayer warriors remember me in prayer tomorrow. I am going in for a stress test for my heart. I have been having problems for some time but have been putting off checking it out.
My mother had four bypasses at age 57, my father had strokes in his 60's and my brother had a heart attack last summer. One doctor already diagnosed a blockage in my neck, so I suspect others.
It is always discouraging when we have problems, we go to the doctor and they can't find anything wrong. We are the picture of health, our problems must be in our head. LOL
My mother went to the doctor several times, they sent her home not able to find anything, until she had a serious weakness attack, then they did more tests and found the blocked arteries. After she had open heart surgery she lived about 25 more years. Also my mother lived with a smoker (my father) for more than 40 years and I only lived with it the first 18 years of my life before I married.
Medical techniques are better now than they were when my parents had their heart trouble, I expect things to be more advanced and move more quickly.
I am a blood bought born again believer so I have no worries. I do confess that if they don't find anything, I will be tempted to be discouraged.
Thank you in advance for your prayers.
My mother had four bypasses at age 57, my father had strokes in his 60's and my brother had a heart attack last summer. One doctor already diagnosed a blockage in my neck, so I suspect others.
It is always discouraging when we have problems, we go to the doctor and they can't find anything wrong. We are the picture of health, our problems must be in our head. LOL
My mother went to the doctor several times, they sent her home not able to find anything, until she had a serious weakness attack, then they did more tests and found the blocked arteries. After she had open heart surgery she lived about 25 more years. Also my mother lived with a smoker (my father) for more than 40 years and I only lived with it the first 18 years of my life before I married.
Medical techniques are better now than they were when my parents had their heart trouble, I expect things to be more advanced and move more quickly.
I am a blood bought born again believer so I have no worries. I do confess that if they don't find anything, I will be tempted to be discouraged.
Thank you in advance for your prayers.
Using God is Sin
Most people turn to God in a crisis, they have no interest in Him any more than they do in anything else they think they don't need. Many parents have experienced this. The only time they hear from their children is when they need something, if they say no, the children get mad and disappear again for a long time.
When all we want is God's "stuff", and are incensed that He bothers us any other times, then we have contempt for God. He is to be used, ignored and maligned when we don't need Him.
We can not expect to have our prayers answered in a crisis when we do not love Him any other time.
Matthew 15:8 "'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME."
Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear."
Micah 3:4 "Then they will cry out to the LORD, But He will not answer them. Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time Because they have practiced evil deeds."
We cannot expect to demand things from God while ignoring Him and have our prayers answered when we care nothing about Him otherwise.
When all we want is God's "stuff", and are incensed that He bothers us any other times, then we have contempt for God. He is to be used, ignored and maligned when we don't need Him.
We can not expect to have our prayers answered in a crisis when we do not love Him any other time.
Matthew 15:8 "'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME."
Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear."
Micah 3:4 "Then they will cry out to the LORD, But He will not answer them. Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time Because they have practiced evil deeds."
We cannot expect to demand things from God while ignoring Him and have our prayers answered when we care nothing about Him otherwise.
Rituals Are Not Evidence of Holiness
Rituals do not make us spiritual, they only make us think we are, pridefully "observing ceremonies" to feel a sense of obedience without a heart to obey in the authentic things. Often rituals replace authentic obedience.
Romans 2:29 "But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God."
Romans 2:29 "But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God."
What Are Our Marching Orders?
A person can have extensive Bible knowledge and emotions about God, and still be on the broad way to hell. God is wanting us to deny ourselves daily. If we are doing all kinds of things we think are for him, proud of ourselves for doing it, then we are doing our own will, not the will of God.
Matthew 12:50
""For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."
Mr. Poonen gave an example of a child who was told to sit down by his father. The child had defiance in his heart but feared punishment, so he sat down, boldly proclaiming that he was sitting down on the outside but standing up on the inside.
Matthew 7:21-23
"21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [a]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
We may not be practicing lawlessness outwardly, but we may be practicing it inwardly by ignoring the will of God as presented in His Word.
We must never evaluate ourselves by how well we know the Bible or the knowledge we think we have, nor can we evaluate ourselves on how well we can explain our knowledge.
We must never evaluate ourselves by how successful we think we are, financially, through education, or how much influence we think we have over people.
True spirituality is to deny our own will and seek God's Will.
John 3:30 ""He must increase, but I must decrease."
Matthew 16:24 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me."
We must do this daily.
Luke 9:23 "And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me."
Rituals do not make us spiritual, they only make us think we are, pridefully "observing ceremonies" to feel a sense of obedience without a heart to obey in the authentic things. Often rituals replace authentic obedience.
It is frightening that far more people than we realize, who claim to be "Christians" are not born again.
Matthew 7:13-14 "13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
The Scripture verses in Matthew 7:21-23 are akin to verses 13-14. Most people who think they are saved have never been changed into a new creation by Christ.
Many are faithful church goers respected by multitudes, loved by everyone they meet.
Luke 6:26 ""Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way."
Often those who desire to be elevated by others, look good to those around them, but there will be clues for the discerning person, even the prompting of the Holy Spirit that warns us that these people are not what they claim to be, they even believe they are spiritual and special, but they have little concern for the laying down of their own will. In fact these people fight against giving up their will.
When we are seeking God, we are focusing on Him rather than ourselves,we will be deeply committed to God's Will. No one can feel superior when they are submitting to Christ.
I once knew a man who was continually comparing his spirituality with others. He judged everything about people, believing he knew them, but in fact he never knew them, because his judgment was based on his own effort to be elevated, the judgment could not be accurate. He made statements such as; "my sins weren't as bad as those of others." It is hard for me to believe that one who would say such a thing, would be changed into a new creation by Christ. When we do not come to Christ in humility, we cannot be born again.
If we come to Christ in brokenness over our sin, then we come ashamed desiring to be made a new person by Christ. No one who believes their sins were not so bad, walking with Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:12 " 12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."
Luke 9:23 "23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
When we are dead to ourselves, then we have no dilutions about ourselves being superior to others. We know where we came from, a lost soul who needed a Savior, and was gloriously saved by Christ when we trusted Him. Anyone who understands their own sinfulness and the great price Christ paid, could never feel elevated above others.
If we are to be holy, we must walk in the way Christ walked.
1 John 2:6 "the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked."
How did Christ walk?
John 6:38 ""For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."
When we become born again, our mission is to walk as Christ walked, doing the will of the Father. The way to know the will of God is to read the instruction book...the Bible. Through the Guidance of the Holy Spirit and the reading of His Words to us, we can know the will of God.
If we claim to be believers and do not care what the Bible teaches, or whether or not we seek the will of Christ, perhaps picking and choosing what we like in His Word, while ignoring or negating the other Words, then we are hypocrites.
It is sin to do our own will. Christ never pleased Himself, even unto death.
What Christ did....the will of the Father...are our marching orders too.
When we speak to people we are to speak always in terms of God's Will, in order to do this we must know His Words and be able to hear the Holy Spirit.
1 Peter 4:11 "Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
Our mission as believers: To do the will of the Father and to speak as the oracles of God. When we do this there is immense joy, even through the trials.
When we are not seeking our own will, anyone can come against us and it does not change our steady spirit, nor does it remove our joy. In fact it strengthens our faith and gives us a deeper joy.
James 1:2 "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,"
Matthew 12:50
""For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."
Mr. Poonen gave an example of a child who was told to sit down by his father. The child had defiance in his heart but feared punishment, so he sat down, boldly proclaiming that he was sitting down on the outside but standing up on the inside.
Matthew 7:21-23
"21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [a]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
We may not be practicing lawlessness outwardly, but we may be practicing it inwardly by ignoring the will of God as presented in His Word.
We must never evaluate ourselves by how well we know the Bible or the knowledge we think we have, nor can we evaluate ourselves on how well we can explain our knowledge.
We must never evaluate ourselves by how successful we think we are, financially, through education, or how much influence we think we have over people.
True spirituality is to deny our own will and seek God's Will.
John 3:30 ""He must increase, but I must decrease."
Matthew 16:24 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me."
We must do this daily.
Luke 9:23 "And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me."
Rituals do not make us spiritual, they only make us think we are, pridefully "observing ceremonies" to feel a sense of obedience without a heart to obey in the authentic things. Often rituals replace authentic obedience.
It is frightening that far more people than we realize, who claim to be "Christians" are not born again.
Matthew 7:13-14 "13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
The Scripture verses in Matthew 7:21-23 are akin to verses 13-14. Most people who think they are saved have never been changed into a new creation by Christ.
Many are faithful church goers respected by multitudes, loved by everyone they meet.
Luke 6:26 ""Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way."
Often those who desire to be elevated by others, look good to those around them, but there will be clues for the discerning person, even the prompting of the Holy Spirit that warns us that these people are not what they claim to be, they even believe they are spiritual and special, but they have little concern for the laying down of their own will. In fact these people fight against giving up their will.
When we are seeking God, we are focusing on Him rather than ourselves,we will be deeply committed to God's Will. No one can feel superior when they are submitting to Christ.
I once knew a man who was continually comparing his spirituality with others. He judged everything about people, believing he knew them, but in fact he never knew them, because his judgment was based on his own effort to be elevated, the judgment could not be accurate. He made statements such as; "my sins weren't as bad as those of others." It is hard for me to believe that one who would say such a thing, would be changed into a new creation by Christ. When we do not come to Christ in humility, we cannot be born again.
If we come to Christ in brokenness over our sin, then we come ashamed desiring to be made a new person by Christ. No one who believes their sins were not so bad, walking with Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:12 " 12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."
Luke 9:23 "23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
When we are dead to ourselves, then we have no dilutions about ourselves being superior to others. We know where we came from, a lost soul who needed a Savior, and was gloriously saved by Christ when we trusted Him. Anyone who understands their own sinfulness and the great price Christ paid, could never feel elevated above others.
If we are to be holy, we must walk in the way Christ walked.
1 John 2:6 "the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked."
How did Christ walk?
John 6:38 ""For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."
When we become born again, our mission is to walk as Christ walked, doing the will of the Father. The way to know the will of God is to read the instruction book...the Bible. Through the Guidance of the Holy Spirit and the reading of His Words to us, we can know the will of God.
If we claim to be believers and do not care what the Bible teaches, or whether or not we seek the will of Christ, perhaps picking and choosing what we like in His Word, while ignoring or negating the other Words, then we are hypocrites.
It is sin to do our own will. Christ never pleased Himself, even unto death.
What Christ did....the will of the Father...are our marching orders too.
When we speak to people we are to speak always in terms of God's Will, in order to do this we must know His Words and be able to hear the Holy Spirit.
1 Peter 4:11 "Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
Our mission as believers: To do the will of the Father and to speak as the oracles of God. When we do this there is immense joy, even through the trials.
When we are not seeking our own will, anyone can come against us and it does not change our steady spirit, nor does it remove our joy. In fact it strengthens our faith and gives us a deeper joy.
James 1:2 "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,"
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