The humble person knows their shortcomings and can admit them, to move forward in strength and improvement.
The reason narcissists, those with insolent pride, cannot grow and change, is because in order to do that, they would have to admit their own frailties.
Pride prevents people from seeing themselves in truth, therefore they are continually having to prove themselves through mocking and demeaning others.
Pride prevents improvement, in fact it furthers and enhances the frailties. As a prideful person gets older his pride become solidified and worsens, as though God has fully turned them over to their own reality.
Matthew 13:12-14 "…12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ 14 In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.…"
It's a terrible thing to go ones entire life fighting against truth, growth and spiritual betterment, only to find oneself no longer able to think reasonably or righteously.
Think about it! "What will my my state when I am too old to pretend anymore?"
Do not become discouraged when you have been drawn into a debate with a narcissist. The devil is using their mind and their mouth, they are not capable of rational thinking or verbiage. Often they will create situations to start fights and arguments. Christ in us can teach us through His word how to deal with such people. He can make us into people who are unaffected by the foolishness of those who have no interest in truth, but only in appearing superior.
Domination is always the goal of a fool, never truth, never resolution of a matter. When we love Christ, we care about resolution of problems, but the fool glories in his own ability to anger and upset others. Notice this is what the devil does, it is his favored tactic.
John 10:10-29 "10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly......"
God's people love to heal, bless and care for others. The devil has only one goal, that is to judge, destroy, ruin and frustrate believers in Christ. We must see his tactics for what they are and refuse to engage with him.
Ephesians 6:12-13 "12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.…"
George Bernard Shaw said this:
"I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."
God says it this way:
"9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words."
Proverbs 29:9
"9 If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet."
Proverbs 1:7
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 18:6
"A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating."
Proverbs 28:26
"Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered."
Proverbs 26:3-12
"A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. ..."
Many of these death experiences for people who claim to have gone to heaven never have the gospel message. They also assume everyone is going to heaven when they die. We know that people do not become converted to Christ by happy thoughts and feelings, they are converted by confronting their sinful nature, confessing it and wanting to be changed by Christ.
Luke 24:47
"and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem."
Matthew 26:28
"for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins."
Hebrews 9:22
"And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."
Acts 2:38
"Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
One thing that strikes me, is that demons can do mind control miracles that make us think we have gone some where so vividly that we believe we have been there. Non-believers have no defense against this deception. The only people who seem to have these dreams are non-believers who claim to be converted by them. But the question is what are they converted to?
I have never heard of a non-Christian mentioned in the Bible who went to heaven. It makes more sense that God only showed heaven to those who were godly.
Those who have had these vision often are non-believers who come back from their experience as "believers in heaven", but there is no mention of how their life really changed after the event.
Also we have many people who claim to have been abducted by aliens and gone into a space ship. There is never any evidence of it, except their own testimonies. I believe these things are happening in the brain not reality, by the power of demons. The anti-christ will do "false miracles and lying wonders." I believe most of it will be in the mind, many will believe the miracles but they never actually happen, their minds have been convinced by these visions from demons.
Also, in the last days deception the anti-christ will do false miracles making people think he is the savior of the world. It will all be happening in their minds.
When a brain surgeon is working on someone's brain and the person is awake, the surgeon can touch a part of the brain and make someone taste their favorite ice cream. They are not having ice cream but they think they are tasting it. The surgeon can touch another part of the brain and make someone re-live some event they did in the past. I am convinced that demons can and do manipulate people's brains to see and believe things that are not true.
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 "…10 and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. 11 For this reason, God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie, 12 in order that judgment will come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.…"
I am also convinced that right now demons are causing thoughts in the minds of those who are not walking with Christ, to make others believe their family and friends have attitudes and actions that do and did not exist. He loves to cause chaos and mayhem, especially against believers and followers of Christ Jesus.
When we are accused of things that we know didn't happen, or thoughts we didn't have, we can be sure that something is messing with the minds of those the devil is using to debilitate us.
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.…"
I have actually witnessed people who say something that is evil or mean, when I address it seconds after they say it, they proclaim they never said that, even when I use exactly the same words they used. They really believe they never said it, causing me to believe someone else used their mouth, being the reason they don't have the words recorded in their brain to recall.
Please brothers and sisters, stay in prayer over everything, remembering that the devil is working to manipulate people against us to demean, mock and diminish the Word of God. If he can turn people against us, he then can discredit anything we say in the eyes of those who once loved or appreciated us.
We don't have to live under a cloud all the time, worried that someone is working the devil's antics. We can live free from the effects of his wiles, at the same time growing in holiness, only as long as we keep our eyes on Christ and truth. We need to remember not to react to the evil around us, that's what the devil wants. We must respond in the Holy Spirit while remaining steady.
Proverbs 4:24-26 "…24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. 25 Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. 26 Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.…"
2 Corinthians 4:3-5 "…3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.…"
Isaiah 33:15-16 "15 He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, He who rejects unjust gain And shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe; He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed And shuts his eyes from looking upon evil; 16 He will dwell on the heights, His refuge will be the impregnable rock; His bread will be given him, His water will be sure.…"
