Kathy Griffin has been in the news lately for her foolish and devilishly disrespectful antics, holding up the bloody head of our president.
What I am about to expose is her insincere apology that is indicative of narcissists, is her rolling eyes, her canned speech and her lack of sorrow in the voice. The response of many people was so strong that she was forced into an apology she would have rather not have had to make.
Narcissists are like this, they will manufacture "sorry" as a tool to regain the confidence of those who were appalled by her ridiculous sense of humor.
By the way folks, this was not just a joke or a rank sense of humor, as some may believe, it was an expression of her own desire for this to happen to our president. Often narcissists will cloak their spiteful and mean spirited heart, in jokes, so that they can claim, "it was just a joke."
If this same joke had been played on president Obama the media would have been all over it and she probably would have been arrested as a threat to our sitting president.
Narcissists have no problem mocking, demeaning and tormenting those who do not hold to their views. When they see that too many people who used to support them are withdrawing from them, (especially those who have withdrawn financial support for various add campaigns from her) they engage in more manipulation through phony and insincere apology, without ever intending to change their wicked heart. They will more than likely be more careful next time to hide their true self.
Kathy Griffin erroneously thought, having surrounded herself with liberals, that she could do and say anything and most people seeing it would laugh and support her. Often narcissists believe they are admired by everyone, thinking they can get away with anything.
The narc knows there are people out there that would be upset, but it would be those she does not respect and her intent is to cause anger in them, hoping they will become vitriolic, then she can say, "see how YOU are."
I cannot count the number of times the narcissists in my life poked at me until I would turn and angrily raise my voice to entreat them to stop their attacks. This was Griffin's hope, that she could cause conservatives and especially those who voted for Trump to become angry, saying and doing things she could point to. The narcissist loves to play the victim when they were the ones that started the fight.
Shame on Miss Griffin, she needs to confess her sin in a very real way, and turn to Christ for cleansing.
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Freedom From Guilt
How we treat people is the evidence of what is in our heart. The fruit of the Spirit are the character qualities of Christ in us.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Matthew 7:15-20
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 So then, you will know them by their fruits.
We can know the heart of a person, not by one act, but by many acts and habits. We can know a person's heart by their response to correction or instruction.
A person with bad fruit will always rage at any suggestion that there needs to be a change in their heart. These people never grow until they have been broken and confess.
A humble person will feel hurt at first at a rebuke, but will be grateful for the information and improve as they make a heart change. Joy will return to them as they engage in another growth spurt.
There are many people who claim to be Christian but lack the love, kindness and selflessness of Christ in their heart. If someone lacks this, learns of it through correction, then they can confess it and ask the Lord to cleans their heart to become more like Him.
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."
Want to be cleansed by Christ? Admit that you have sinned, that you have offended God and others, then ask Christ to cleanse you of that sin and even reveal any others that linger there because of pride, then your spiritual growth will soar, the joy will flood in.
Each time we confess, each time the sin is dealt with, there is strength to more easily confess the next thing that needs attention. It gets easier as we learn how wonderful it feels to be free of guilt and one more sin.
We are not free of guilt by denying our sin, nor are we free of guilt by getting others to absolve us by accepting our sin. We are free by confessing it, being cleansed by God and moving forward in holiness. Hallelujah!
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Matthew 7:15-20
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 So then, you will know them by their fruits.
We can know the heart of a person, not by one act, but by many acts and habits. We can know a person's heart by their response to correction or instruction.
A person with bad fruit will always rage at any suggestion that there needs to be a change in their heart. These people never grow until they have been broken and confess.
A humble person will feel hurt at first at a rebuke, but will be grateful for the information and improve as they make a heart change. Joy will return to them as they engage in another growth spurt.
There are many people who claim to be Christian but lack the love, kindness and selflessness of Christ in their heart. If someone lacks this, learns of it through correction, then they can confess it and ask the Lord to cleans their heart to become more like Him.
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."
Want to be cleansed by Christ? Admit that you have sinned, that you have offended God and others, then ask Christ to cleanse you of that sin and even reveal any others that linger there because of pride, then your spiritual growth will soar, the joy will flood in.
Each time we confess, each time the sin is dealt with, there is strength to more easily confess the next thing that needs attention. It gets easier as we learn how wonderful it feels to be free of guilt and one more sin.
We are not free of guilt by denying our sin, nor are we free of guilt by getting others to absolve us by accepting our sin. We are free by confessing it, being cleansed by God and moving forward in holiness. Hallelujah!
Which Way Do You Lean?
Ecclesiastes 10:2 " 2 A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man's heart directs him toward the left."
Interesting isn't it!
Interesting isn't it!
Many are Called Few are Chosen
All men are have been and are being drawn to Christ, God works on everyone, but few will respond.
There is a reason, those who are not saved have rejected Christ, it is their choice.
Just as those who are saved have accepted Christ, it is their choice. God knows who will and who will not, but he does not force anyone.
Romans 10:10-12 "…10 For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved. 11 It is just as the Scripture says: “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on Him,…"
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, 35 but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.…
ALL those who desire to be cleansed by Christ, will be saved!
Romans 10:8-10 "…8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.…"
There is a reason, those who are not saved have rejected Christ, it is their choice.
Just as those who are saved have accepted Christ, it is their choice. God knows who will and who will not, but he does not force anyone.
Romans 10:10-12 "…10 For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved. 11 It is just as the Scripture says: “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on Him,…"
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, 35 but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.…
ALL those who desire to be cleansed by Christ, will be saved!
Romans 10:8-10 "…8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.…"
Remembering HIM!
Steve Hulshizer, wrote in an article in the Counsel Magazine, these words:
"It should be noted that Christ did not say "remember me in my death." His request was that they would remember HIM. It was a person they were to remember not so much an event."
1 Corinthians 11:23-25
"23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
"It should be noted that Christ did not say "remember me in my death." His request was that they would remember HIM. It was a person they were to remember not so much an event."
1 Corinthians 11:23-25
"23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
The Scapegoat Can Do No Right
I heard a story the other day on the radio, I can't remember who said it but I will never forget the story because it hit home in a way that was profound. Forgive me if I don't relay it perfectly but here is my memory:
There was a man, his son and a donkey, who were going into town, the man rode the donkey while the son walked alongside. The townspeople were critical of the man because he made the son walk along side while he rode.
The next time they went to town the man decided to walk while his son rode the donkey to silence the mouths of the towns people. As they approached the town the people were angry because the boy was on the donkey, a sign of disrespect while the man had to walk.
In the following trip to town the man decided to just walk into town, that way the people would have nothing to be angry about, they would both be walking. To his dismay, as the son and his father approached the town, the people mocked them saying; "can you believe that, they have a donkey but they walked, how silly."
This is an illustration of what it is like for a scapegoat in the family. No matter what they do, it will be criticized and mocked simply because the "towns people" don't like the people they target.
The "towns people" don't like their targets because they are jealous, they can't control the actions and reactions of the target and they have a deep contempt and resentment that cannot be quenched.
If any of you have experienced this, you know how frustrating it can be. The narcissist will not only mock and demean you, often covertly so others cannot see it, as well as praising others in your presence to make you jealous of their attention.
I have actually had narcissists brag on others for things they mocked me about, to show clearly that they approved of the others, while I was diminished in their eyes.
Sadly, I still cannot figure out what the narcissists get out of this covert tactic, other than feeling good that they hurt their scapegoat.
I can only surmise that jealousy is the driving force behind the intention to diminish and demean another human being merely for self elevation purposes.
Philippians 2:3 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than himself."
We know that someone is not walking with Christ when they gain pleasure from devaluing another human being. The need to be superior is driven by hate. Arrogance is not of God on any level, in fact those that love self promotion cannot see themselves under a God they cannot see, they must make themselves god.
How can someone who harbors jealousy in their heart ever be submitted to the God of the universe who requires humility to follow Him?
Romans 12:3
"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."
Isaiah 13:11
"I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless."
James 1:20-22 "…20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly receive the word planted in you, which can save your souls. 22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.…"
Galatians 6:7-8
"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal."
Another element of the narcissistic ploy is to turn others against those the narcissist cannot dominate. If they can have no effect on the life of their target, then they will use others to diminish them.
2 Corinthians 12:20 "20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder."
There is nothing new under the son, Paul the apostle encountered all that we have. The Bible gives us all the wisdom we need to obey Him, most will not turn to God for their wisdom, they will cherry pick their favorite verses to make them say what they want to believe, while ignoring the very ones that would convict them of their sinfulness. Many believers remain spiritual infants because they love to hang onto their pride.
We need to be reading the word to be convicted that we might grow and be cleansed to walk in holiness. When the Bible is sought merely to elevate ourselves, "I'm doing this", or "I'm doing that", then is when we realize our focus is fleshly and self promoting.
Stop saying "I'm doing this" or "I'm doing that", and begin to ask the Lord what we are not doing that we should. Our quest for wisdom ought to change our dirty hearts and prideful actions. The more we seek Him the more we are cleansed.
There was a man, his son and a donkey, who were going into town, the man rode the donkey while the son walked alongside. The townspeople were critical of the man because he made the son walk along side while he rode.
The next time they went to town the man decided to walk while his son rode the donkey to silence the mouths of the towns people. As they approached the town the people were angry because the boy was on the donkey, a sign of disrespect while the man had to walk.
In the following trip to town the man decided to just walk into town, that way the people would have nothing to be angry about, they would both be walking. To his dismay, as the son and his father approached the town, the people mocked them saying; "can you believe that, they have a donkey but they walked, how silly."
This is an illustration of what it is like for a scapegoat in the family. No matter what they do, it will be criticized and mocked simply because the "towns people" don't like the people they target.
The "towns people" don't like their targets because they are jealous, they can't control the actions and reactions of the target and they have a deep contempt and resentment that cannot be quenched.
If any of you have experienced this, you know how frustrating it can be. The narcissist will not only mock and demean you, often covertly so others cannot see it, as well as praising others in your presence to make you jealous of their attention.
I have actually had narcissists brag on others for things they mocked me about, to show clearly that they approved of the others, while I was diminished in their eyes.
Sadly, I still cannot figure out what the narcissists get out of this covert tactic, other than feeling good that they hurt their scapegoat.
I can only surmise that jealousy is the driving force behind the intention to diminish and demean another human being merely for self elevation purposes.
Philippians 2:3 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than himself."
We know that someone is not walking with Christ when they gain pleasure from devaluing another human being. The need to be superior is driven by hate. Arrogance is not of God on any level, in fact those that love self promotion cannot see themselves under a God they cannot see, they must make themselves god.
How can someone who harbors jealousy in their heart ever be submitted to the God of the universe who requires humility to follow Him?
Romans 12:3
"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."
Isaiah 13:11
"I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless."
James 1:20-22 "…20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly receive the word planted in you, which can save your souls. 22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.…"
Galatians 6:7-8
"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal."
Another element of the narcissistic ploy is to turn others against those the narcissist cannot dominate. If they can have no effect on the life of their target, then they will use others to diminish them.
2 Corinthians 12:20 "20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder."
There is nothing new under the son, Paul the apostle encountered all that we have. The Bible gives us all the wisdom we need to obey Him, most will not turn to God for their wisdom, they will cherry pick their favorite verses to make them say what they want to believe, while ignoring the very ones that would convict them of their sinfulness. Many believers remain spiritual infants because they love to hang onto their pride.
We need to be reading the word to be convicted that we might grow and be cleansed to walk in holiness. When the Bible is sought merely to elevate ourselves, "I'm doing this", or "I'm doing that", then is when we realize our focus is fleshly and self promoting.
Stop saying "I'm doing this" or "I'm doing that", and begin to ask the Lord what we are not doing that we should. Our quest for wisdom ought to change our dirty hearts and prideful actions. The more we seek Him the more we are cleansed.
The Pagans Did It Too
Did you know that the phrase, "bless you" when someone sneezes, comes out of paganism?
In ancient days there was a belief that when someone sneezed it was the bodies way of expelling evil spirits from within the one who sneezed.
As children we were taught this practice in German, in order to bless a person, but didn't know why someone needed a blessing just because of a sneeze, the word we used was "gesundheit."
We thought we were being kind but never knew why it was kind. We never stopped to ask why we were not saying this word when someone coughed, only when they sneezed.
Some people believed that when someone sneezed they were expelling a piece of their soul, so they sent a blessing their way to help them regain or keep their soul.
Others believed that evil spirits took the moment of sneezing to gain entrance into the soul of a person.
Pope Gregory believed that a sneeze was a sign someone was in danger of contracting the plague, so to combat that he said "God Bless you."
Interesting isn't it? So often we do things that were once a pagan myth based on demonic thinking and incorporated it into our culture, after several generations no one really knew why we did something but continued to do it anyway. "It's just our culture" we would say, as though that gives it validity.
The people I know today are not thinking in these pagan ways when they do it, and neither was I, but my guess is, if we asked them why they extend a blessing for a sneeze, that they wouldn't know why.
I have decided never to do it again, because it really has no meaning and purpose for the believer, except to be polite. We can be polite in other ways that make sense, such as " be careful going home the traffic is awful", or "Lord go with you on your travels."
It is permissible to drop all the practices that came out of paganism, that are used for "politeness" and frankly, make no sense at all for believers. We can be polite in sensible ways that have meaning, purpose and are Biblical.
Romans 12:2
"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."
If we take seriously that last phrase in Romans 12:2 "what is good and acceptable and perfect", we will no longer defend something simply because it is the culture and makes people feel good. What we do will have purpose and meaning and be a REAL blessing!
In ancient days there was a belief that when someone sneezed it was the bodies way of expelling evil spirits from within the one who sneezed.
As children we were taught this practice in German, in order to bless a person, but didn't know why someone needed a blessing just because of a sneeze, the word we used was "gesundheit."
We thought we were being kind but never knew why it was kind. We never stopped to ask why we were not saying this word when someone coughed, only when they sneezed.
Some people believed that when someone sneezed they were expelling a piece of their soul, so they sent a blessing their way to help them regain or keep their soul.
Others believed that evil spirits took the moment of sneezing to gain entrance into the soul of a person.
Pope Gregory believed that a sneeze was a sign someone was in danger of contracting the plague, so to combat that he said "God Bless you."
Interesting isn't it? So often we do things that were once a pagan myth based on demonic thinking and incorporated it into our culture, after several generations no one really knew why we did something but continued to do it anyway. "It's just our culture" we would say, as though that gives it validity.
The people I know today are not thinking in these pagan ways when they do it, and neither was I, but my guess is, if we asked them why they extend a blessing for a sneeze, that they wouldn't know why.
I have decided never to do it again, because it really has no meaning and purpose for the believer, except to be polite. We can be polite in other ways that make sense, such as " be careful going home the traffic is awful", or "Lord go with you on your travels."
It is permissible to drop all the practices that came out of paganism, that are used for "politeness" and frankly, make no sense at all for believers. We can be polite in sensible ways that have meaning, purpose and are Biblical.
Romans 12:2
"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."
If we take seriously that last phrase in Romans 12:2 "what is good and acceptable and perfect", we will no longer defend something simply because it is the culture and makes people feel good. What we do will have purpose and meaning and be a REAL blessing!
Sunday, May 28, 2017
The Snowflake Brigade
I have been hearing the term "snowflake" lately in reference to whinny baby Millennials and even the 1970's crowd.
It seems appropriate to me because of the nature of a snowflake.
Snowflakes are little tiny bodies of water that melt at the slightest increase in heat.
Snowflakes can not endure anything at all, less than a second in a warm hand will melt them instantly.
Thus we see a culture of snowflakes who rant and rage at the slightest correction or instruction that does not meet their personal desires or their elevated view of their own importance.
Snowflakes are people who will accept anyone who will promise them whatever they want, whether it's true or not, they live on cliche's and platitudes (platitude: a word or phrase used too often to be interesting any more.)
The anti-christ will promise peace and safety and the snowflakes, lacking discernment will believe him, follow him and when they wake up to what they have been deceived into, it will be too late, far too much damage will be done to recover.
The anti-christ will use flattery, promises of prosperity and other lies to lure in his victims, only those who have wisdom and godly understanding will know what he is really all about.
We have anti-christs among us right now, who appear to be
pre-cursers to the great deception. Promises, promising and promising, but only appearing to deliver, it's all an illlusion.
Prosperity preachers and politicians, today are doing this and many people are falling right in lock step with their deceptions. The targets are sending in their money hoping to become wealthy, healthy and beautiful just like the deceivers they follow. Even when it doesn't happen to them as promised they keep following them anyway, believing the lies and hoping for the payoff.
All we have to do is watch the prosperity preachers and the politicians, and their targets response to see what will happen when the anti-christ comes on the scene. The masses are nearly ready for him now, they fall in lock step with every new movie or book that comes out, they repeat meaningless phrases that they think are in the Bible but are antithetical to the Bible. Then they become angry when told their favorite cliche has no basis in Scripture.
Yes, born again believers already know what the last days deception will look like, they are living in a microcosm of it right now, every day we see it.
Matthew 24:24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect."
1 Thessalonians 5:3-4 "3 While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief.…"
It seems appropriate to me because of the nature of a snowflake.
Snowflakes are little tiny bodies of water that melt at the slightest increase in heat.
Snowflakes can not endure anything at all, less than a second in a warm hand will melt them instantly.
Thus we see a culture of snowflakes who rant and rage at the slightest correction or instruction that does not meet their personal desires or their elevated view of their own importance.
Snowflakes are people who will accept anyone who will promise them whatever they want, whether it's true or not, they live on cliche's and platitudes (platitude: a word or phrase used too often to be interesting any more.)
The anti-christ will promise peace and safety and the snowflakes, lacking discernment will believe him, follow him and when they wake up to what they have been deceived into, it will be too late, far too much damage will be done to recover.
The anti-christ will use flattery, promises of prosperity and other lies to lure in his victims, only those who have wisdom and godly understanding will know what he is really all about.
We have anti-christs among us right now, who appear to be
pre-cursers to the great deception. Promises, promising and promising, but only appearing to deliver, it's all an illlusion.
Prosperity preachers and politicians, today are doing this and many people are falling right in lock step with their deceptions. The targets are sending in their money hoping to become wealthy, healthy and beautiful just like the deceivers they follow. Even when it doesn't happen to them as promised they keep following them anyway, believing the lies and hoping for the payoff.
All we have to do is watch the prosperity preachers and the politicians, and their targets response to see what will happen when the anti-christ comes on the scene. The masses are nearly ready for him now, they fall in lock step with every new movie or book that comes out, they repeat meaningless phrases that they think are in the Bible but are antithetical to the Bible. Then they become angry when told their favorite cliche has no basis in Scripture.
Yes, born again believers already know what the last days deception will look like, they are living in a microcosm of it right now, every day we see it.
Matthew 24:24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect."
1 Thessalonians 5:3-4 "3 While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief.…"
Next Year at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb
Before the regathering of Israel to her land, Jews around the world would depart one another after a visit, with this saying, "next year in Jerusalem."
For 2000 years the Jews have known that one day the Lord would bring them back into their land, the land He promised to them centuries ago.
Deuteronomy 1:8 "8 See, I have placed the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to them and their descendants after them.' "
Zephaniah 3:20
"At that time I will bring you in, Even at the time when I gather you together; Indeed, I will give you renown and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I restore your fortunes before your eyes," Says the LORD."
Ezekiel 39:27
"When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall be sanctified through them in the sight of the many nations."
Psalm 107:2-3
"Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary And gathered from the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south."
Every year the Jews were living in hope that this would be the year that the Lord would return them to their land. And, the miracle finally happened on May 14, 1948, the Jews were given back their land and began to fill it through immigration of Jews all over the world, Jews who had not been there before but knew in their hearts that the land was for them.
As I ponder the fact that the Jews were expecting God to work on their behalf someday, even when their fathers died and it had not happened, they still believed it would, because they knew the prophesies and the promises.
They are still in unbelief in the land the Lord brought back to them, but many are coming to the Christ within that country by the hundreds.
All of this reminds me of the promise that believers have in the return of Christ in the clouds to gather His children, His sheep unto Himself.
My new phrase is going to be, "next year at the marriage supper of the Lamb."
Revelation 19:6-9
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb!
"6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said[a] to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
The promise given to the born again believers for these end times is the hope of the believer. Not a hope in the sense that we wish it would happen, but a knowledge of and faith in the promises God gave to His church.
NEXT YEAR AT THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB!!!!
If not this year, then next year, if not next year then the following year, but whatever year it is, we remain in hope that it be soon!!!!
For 2000 years the Jews have known that one day the Lord would bring them back into their land, the land He promised to them centuries ago.
Deuteronomy 1:8 "8 See, I have placed the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to them and their descendants after them.' "
Zephaniah 3:20
"At that time I will bring you in, Even at the time when I gather you together; Indeed, I will give you renown and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I restore your fortunes before your eyes," Says the LORD."
Ezekiel 39:27
"When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall be sanctified through them in the sight of the many nations."
Psalm 107:2-3
"Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary And gathered from the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south."
Every year the Jews were living in hope that this would be the year that the Lord would return them to their land. And, the miracle finally happened on May 14, 1948, the Jews were given back their land and began to fill it through immigration of Jews all over the world, Jews who had not been there before but knew in their hearts that the land was for them.
As I ponder the fact that the Jews were expecting God to work on their behalf someday, even when their fathers died and it had not happened, they still believed it would, because they knew the prophesies and the promises.
They are still in unbelief in the land the Lord brought back to them, but many are coming to the Christ within that country by the hundreds.
All of this reminds me of the promise that believers have in the return of Christ in the clouds to gather His children, His sheep unto Himself.
My new phrase is going to be, "next year at the marriage supper of the Lamb."
Revelation 19:6-9
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb!
"6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said[a] to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
The promise given to the born again believers for these end times is the hope of the believer. Not a hope in the sense that we wish it would happen, but a knowledge of and faith in the promises God gave to His church.
NEXT YEAR AT THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB!!!!
If not this year, then next year, if not next year then the following year, but whatever year it is, we remain in hope that it be soon!!!!
Saturday, May 27, 2017
Forgiveness for Those Who Confess
Forgiveness is only for those who confess and are deeply sorry.
Isaiah 26:10 "10 Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the LORD."
1 John 1:9-10 "…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.…"
Matthew 18:15-18 "15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.
17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
18 Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."
When we prematurely forgive while there is no sorrow over the offense, we only manage to solidify the pride and harden the heart of the one who will not repent.
Accountability is important in the Christian walk;
Galatians 5:9 "9 A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough."
When sin is not dealt with God's way, it grows. Coddling people because we don't like hurt feelings is only managing to cause more sin, less confession and even hardened hearts.
God's way is not easy, it's hard, but it is fruitful if we are willing to take the steps God tells us to take in disciplining a sinning brother or sister.
Our Christian culture misses blessings of restored lives because we have refused to do things God's way in favor of being loved by the masses.
Anyone reading this believe the world is a better place because of all this phony love? Or do you see the world getting worse?
Isaiah 26:10 "10 Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the LORD."
1 John 1:9-10 "…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.…"
Matthew 18:15-18 "15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.
17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
18 Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."
When we prematurely forgive while there is no sorrow over the offense, we only manage to solidify the pride and harden the heart of the one who will not repent.
Accountability is important in the Christian walk;
Galatians 5:9 "9 A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough."
When sin is not dealt with God's way, it grows. Coddling people because we don't like hurt feelings is only managing to cause more sin, less confession and even hardened hearts.
God's way is not easy, it's hard, but it is fruitful if we are willing to take the steps God tells us to take in disciplining a sinning brother or sister.
Our Christian culture misses blessings of restored lives because we have refused to do things God's way in favor of being loved by the masses.
Anyone reading this believe the world is a better place because of all this phony love? Or do you see the world getting worse?
Living What You Say
"More is caught than taught."
Those of you who believe your words are more important than your actions, need to understand that children are more likely to ACT the way you do than to honor your Words.
It's simple, it is best to model a godly life than to merely speak of it.
Those of you who believe your words are more important than your actions, need to understand that children are more likely to ACT the way you do than to honor your Words.
It's simple, it is best to model a godly life than to merely speak of it.
The Regression is Continuing
We are regressing in many ways. We no longer have total freedom of religion, our freedom of speech is dissolving before our eyes and respect for elders is nearly non-existent.
Friday, May 26, 2017
Toxic People and Their Control
"When a toxic person cannot control you, they will control how others see you."
Romans 8:25-27
"25 But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently. 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.…"
Narcissists Value No One
Narcissists really believe if you don't think like they do or praise them a lot, you have no value. Welcome to the world before the return of Christ.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“Difficult Times Will Come”
3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, 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 men as these.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“Difficult Times Will Come”
3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, 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 men as these.
To Much Discussion About Me or You!
Joseph Burgo said:
"What I long for, and find rare, is the kind of conversation where we’re not talking about me or you but about an idea or current event, maybe a good book one of us has read. I enjoy the back-and-forth of discussion, one person adding to or disputing what someone else has just said. I want to feel I’ve learned something, or that in the conversational give-and-take, we’ve both come to a new understanding."
I find facebook a blessing to me, just as Joseph Burgo expresses his desire for conversation to be about concepts and current events, rather than personal accomplishments and adventures.
Our culture is full of bragging in order to elevate oneself. A little discussion on these things is alright, but when this is all we encounter or mostly what we encounter, that's when I exit the scene.
Learning about people, not the things they've done, but their beliefs and ideas about life and God are far more interesting than their accomplishments, although their accomplishments say a little about them, they do not give a picture of what is going on inside of them.
Getting to know a person is far more than knowing the things they do even though those the things they do can be one out of many clues!
"What I long for, and find rare, is the kind of conversation where we’re not talking about me or you but about an idea or current event, maybe a good book one of us has read. I enjoy the back-and-forth of discussion, one person adding to or disputing what someone else has just said. I want to feel I’ve learned something, or that in the conversational give-and-take, we’ve both come to a new understanding."
I find facebook a blessing to me, just as Joseph Burgo expresses his desire for conversation to be about concepts and current events, rather than personal accomplishments and adventures.
Our culture is full of bragging in order to elevate oneself. A little discussion on these things is alright, but when this is all we encounter or mostly what we encounter, that's when I exit the scene.
Learning about people, not the things they've done, but their beliefs and ideas about life and God are far more interesting than their accomplishments, although their accomplishments say a little about them, they do not give a picture of what is going on inside of them.
Getting to know a person is far more than knowing the things they do even though those the things they do can be one out of many clues!
Lies Always Divide!
It is a common tactic for the narcissist to claim you are not listening or that they have to walk on egg shells around you. They do this to intimidate and make us question our own sanity.
The reality is that narcissists use what is called, "projection", they accuse their target of doing the very thing the narcissist is doing but the target is not.
We see this in politics all the time when one candidate is accusing another of something but the one doing the accusing is the one who does what they accuse others of doing.
I was once told by a narcissist that they had to walk around on egg shells around me. The reality was I began avoiding this person because they were continually negating and attacking me both in covert and overt ways, so much so that I decided the less contact the better.
When the narcissist could no longer stand that I was not coming around or paying attention to him, he accused me of "making him walk on egg shells."
It is frustrating at best when in contact with a narcissist to have to endure the accusations against us that the narcissist is doing. To even attempt to point out that it was not you doing something but them, is an exercise in futility, it will always turn into an ugly argument.
This is why the Lord told us to avoid these people, there is no "real" communication ever, it is always about winning without consideration to anything that is being communicated. Power over others is the goal.
One example of this is "the Flat Earth", contingent. They feed off of arguments and fights about the shape of the earth when reasonable people know the shape of it, based on good science. One of the reasons I believe this belief in the flat earth is from the devil is because of the trouble it causes for no good reason.
A brother mentioned in a comment recently that all we have to do is look at the moon and the sun. Another brother mentioned the fact that these "flat earthers" are always vitriolic, filled with bitter and hateful criticism to upset and accuse, even twisting Scripture to support their silly claims.
Narcissists will not listen to anything, ever!
When we do not buy into their false claims they become enraged and mean spirited.
To top it all off, whether the earth is flat or round is a distraction to cause frustration and infighting. It is a fact that the devil deliberately twists the truths of God to cause doubt. He is using this "flat earth" nonsense to keep people distracted from truth, true science and good sense.
The bishops of the catholic church centuries ago fought over how many angels could dance on the head of a pin. NOW HOW SILLY IS THAT!!! Since no one could prove it, or that angels would ever do it, it was a meaningless argument based on nothingness.
I can see as we approach the time of the return of Christ, more and more solid doctrine and true science being twisted into irrational claims opposite of truth.
Remember the aim of the devil is to distract from the gospel, to lie against truth and to cause fighting in the ranks.
John 8:43-45 "…43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. 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!…"
Finally, what real difference does it make whether the earth is flat or round? We are on it, people are dying and going to hell and we need to be helping the brethren to grow in truth while giving the gospel.
The frustration is the constant attack against the truth. I see this claim of the flat earth as nothing more than a lie to cause division and fighting. I addressed it one time on my page to encourage those who are frustrated by it. Then along come those who are buying into it, to proselytize others to their religion based on false science, while negating and twisting God's Word to support their lies.
The devil loves to get people into arguments, that's why whenever we see someone twisting truth to start an argument, it is the devil who is behind it all. Don't even engage with these people if you can avoid it. Speak truth once and then walk away, they will be accountable for their refusal to ask God to show them truth.
The reality is that narcissists use what is called, "projection", they accuse their target of doing the very thing the narcissist is doing but the target is not.
We see this in politics all the time when one candidate is accusing another of something but the one doing the accusing is the one who does what they accuse others of doing.
I was once told by a narcissist that they had to walk around on egg shells around me. The reality was I began avoiding this person because they were continually negating and attacking me both in covert and overt ways, so much so that I decided the less contact the better.
When the narcissist could no longer stand that I was not coming around or paying attention to him, he accused me of "making him walk on egg shells."
It is frustrating at best when in contact with a narcissist to have to endure the accusations against us that the narcissist is doing. To even attempt to point out that it was not you doing something but them, is an exercise in futility, it will always turn into an ugly argument.
This is why the Lord told us to avoid these people, there is no "real" communication ever, it is always about winning without consideration to anything that is being communicated. Power over others is the goal.
One example of this is "the Flat Earth", contingent. They feed off of arguments and fights about the shape of the earth when reasonable people know the shape of it, based on good science. One of the reasons I believe this belief in the flat earth is from the devil is because of the trouble it causes for no good reason.
A brother mentioned in a comment recently that all we have to do is look at the moon and the sun. Another brother mentioned the fact that these "flat earthers" are always vitriolic, filled with bitter and hateful criticism to upset and accuse, even twisting Scripture to support their silly claims.
Narcissists will not listen to anything, ever!
When we do not buy into their false claims they become enraged and mean spirited.
To top it all off, whether the earth is flat or round is a distraction to cause frustration and infighting. It is a fact that the devil deliberately twists the truths of God to cause doubt. He is using this "flat earth" nonsense to keep people distracted from truth, true science and good sense.
The bishops of the catholic church centuries ago fought over how many angels could dance on the head of a pin. NOW HOW SILLY IS THAT!!! Since no one could prove it, or that angels would ever do it, it was a meaningless argument based on nothingness.
I can see as we approach the time of the return of Christ, more and more solid doctrine and true science being twisted into irrational claims opposite of truth.
Remember the aim of the devil is to distract from the gospel, to lie against truth and to cause fighting in the ranks.
John 8:43-45 "…43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. 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!…"
Finally, what real difference does it make whether the earth is flat or round? We are on it, people are dying and going to hell and we need to be helping the brethren to grow in truth while giving the gospel.
The frustration is the constant attack against the truth. I see this claim of the flat earth as nothing more than a lie to cause division and fighting. I addressed it one time on my page to encourage those who are frustrated by it. Then along come those who are buying into it, to proselytize others to their religion based on false science, while negating and twisting God's Word to support their lies.
The devil loves to get people into arguments, that's why whenever we see someone twisting truth to start an argument, it is the devil who is behind it all. Don't even engage with these people if you can avoid it. Speak truth once and then walk away, they will be accountable for their refusal to ask God to show them truth.
Thursday, May 25, 2017
He Did What Was Right, They Accused Him of Wrong
When encountering a narcissist, it is common to think we have done something wrong, even when we had done something kind to the narcissist, they will act as though we had done something wrong.
One way to evaluate if we are the one who caused trouble, is to ask God first and then evaluate what actually happened. When I have been wrong the Holy Spirit tells me, I cannot rest until I have made it right. However, when I can't figure out what I did and the narcissist refuses to engage in conversation about what happened, then I know I probably was not at fault.
One of the tactics of a narcissist is to deliberately refuse to work something out to help us understand, they know they are guilty and they enjoy the contempt and power they receive from keeping us, in their minds, in a one down position, while holding onto their false ideas about us.
The only solution to this problem of deliberate lack of communication to fix a matter is to remove ourselves from the relationship, if this occurs on a regular basis, go to prayer and wait for God to tell us when to begin contact again.
Without HONEST communication and the DESIRE TO RECONCILE a relationship, there can be no fellowship. True friends are grieved when there is a misunderstanding and desire to make things right, especially when they have been convicted of sin against another person. A godly friend will feel terrible that things are not pleasing to their friend, or that their friend is grieving over something.
A narcissist enjoys watching their target grieve, even getting a high from it. It is a devilish response to the plight of others. The only time a narcissist will help another person, is if it makes them elevated in the eyes of onlookers. Narcissists hardly ever do covert and hidden acts of kindness, there is always an audience.
Satan can keep us continually on the defensive all the time for no good reason, by using contentious people to unnerve us. In 2 Timothy 3:1-5 God tells us clearly to disengage with these people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, 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 MEN AS THESE."
Proverbs 26:21 "Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife."
2 Timothy 2:23-25 "Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,"
Proverbs 16:28 "A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends."
James 4:1-3 "What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. "
The narcissist will also work to turn others against us by their relaying of false information based on their twisted view because of their contempt for us. Remember when Christ was accused of "claiming He was god", when He really is God. He went to the cross because evil men accused Him of things, much of them were lies against Him. They denied His good deeds much like the narcissist will deny our good deeds. The Pharisees were so full of themselves that they could not admit that there was One greater than themselves. They oppressed everyone under their authority needlessly simply to control them.
The apostles were martyred because they were believers not because they did anything wrong but because they did what was righteous.
Proverbs 26:20 "For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases."
When we remove the contentious and contemptuous person from our lives the peace and joy that we were robbed of, returns in abundance.
We will encounter many more of these types as the time gets closer to the Lord's return. We do not avoid completely all people who are this way, that would be impossible, however, we do not allow them to linger in our lives continually causing problems, which only would help to validate them. We must seek the Lord in when to remove them if it is His Will.
No one learns without consequences, far too often in our culture there is no discipline for bad behavior or the discipline is so mild that lessons are not learned. Because of our indulgent mentality, we have failed to teach good Christian principles while raising up monsters who are demanding and contribute little.
2 Corinthians 12:20-21 " 20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;
21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced."
I am noticing here in 2 Corinthians that Paul wrote very boldly to the Corinthian believers, so boldly, that if spoken today, he would be summarily rejected even before he came, perhaps asked not to come.
Our culture is waxing worse and worse, if we are not aware of the tactics and manipulations we may be intimidated into silence. Let's learn the tactics of the devil, stand boldly against them and thwart them where possible through removal of ourselves from their influence.
Titus 3:10 "As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,"
One way to evaluate if we are the one who caused trouble, is to ask God first and then evaluate what actually happened. When I have been wrong the Holy Spirit tells me, I cannot rest until I have made it right. However, when I can't figure out what I did and the narcissist refuses to engage in conversation about what happened, then I know I probably was not at fault.
One of the tactics of a narcissist is to deliberately refuse to work something out to help us understand, they know they are guilty and they enjoy the contempt and power they receive from keeping us, in their minds, in a one down position, while holding onto their false ideas about us.
The only solution to this problem of deliberate lack of communication to fix a matter is to remove ourselves from the relationship, if this occurs on a regular basis, go to prayer and wait for God to tell us when to begin contact again.
Without HONEST communication and the DESIRE TO RECONCILE a relationship, there can be no fellowship. True friends are grieved when there is a misunderstanding and desire to make things right, especially when they have been convicted of sin against another person. A godly friend will feel terrible that things are not pleasing to their friend, or that their friend is grieving over something.
A narcissist enjoys watching their target grieve, even getting a high from it. It is a devilish response to the plight of others. The only time a narcissist will help another person, is if it makes them elevated in the eyes of onlookers. Narcissists hardly ever do covert and hidden acts of kindness, there is always an audience.
Satan can keep us continually on the defensive all the time for no good reason, by using contentious people to unnerve us. In 2 Timothy 3:1-5 God tells us clearly to disengage with these people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, 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 MEN AS THESE."
Proverbs 26:21 "Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife."
2 Timothy 2:23-25 "Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,"
Proverbs 16:28 "A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends."
James 4:1-3 "What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. "
The narcissist will also work to turn others against us by their relaying of false information based on their twisted view because of their contempt for us. Remember when Christ was accused of "claiming He was god", when He really is God. He went to the cross because evil men accused Him of things, much of them were lies against Him. They denied His good deeds much like the narcissist will deny our good deeds. The Pharisees were so full of themselves that they could not admit that there was One greater than themselves. They oppressed everyone under their authority needlessly simply to control them.
The apostles were martyred because they were believers not because they did anything wrong but because they did what was righteous.
Proverbs 26:20 "For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases."
When we remove the contentious and contemptuous person from our lives the peace and joy that we were robbed of, returns in abundance.
We will encounter many more of these types as the time gets closer to the Lord's return. We do not avoid completely all people who are this way, that would be impossible, however, we do not allow them to linger in our lives continually causing problems, which only would help to validate them. We must seek the Lord in when to remove them if it is His Will.
No one learns without consequences, far too often in our culture there is no discipline for bad behavior or the discipline is so mild that lessons are not learned. Because of our indulgent mentality, we have failed to teach good Christian principles while raising up monsters who are demanding and contribute little.
2 Corinthians 12:20-21 " 20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;
21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced."
I am noticing here in 2 Corinthians that Paul wrote very boldly to the Corinthian believers, so boldly, that if spoken today, he would be summarily rejected even before he came, perhaps asked not to come.
Our culture is waxing worse and worse, if we are not aware of the tactics and manipulations we may be intimidated into silence. Let's learn the tactics of the devil, stand boldly against them and thwart them where possible through removal of ourselves from their influence.
Titus 3:10 "As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,"
Don't Worry Just Keep Going
Don't worry about manipulators and nay sayers, just speak the truth and let go. God will take it where HE wants it to go. We like to SEE results, but we don't have to, to remain faithful to God's call, nor do we need to be validated by man to continue.
1 Corinthians 3:7-9
"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."
1 Corinthians 3:7-9
"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."
Excellence of Love
1 Corinthians 13
The Excellence of Love
13 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
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.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
The Excellence of Love
13 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
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.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Flatter Earthers Have Gone Insane
Can you believe there are such a thing as "flat earthers", I am flabbergasted?
Even the word of God tell us that the earth is a circle.
Isaiah 40:21-22 "…21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. "
If anyone can show me a news story of someone falling off the edge of the earth please send it to me.
Anything these days to discredit creation and even claim it was from God, the devil is very busy!
It just goes to show that people are starting to believe anything simply because it is different and rebellious, without thinking it through and without praying about it.
In these last days the great deception will not be that hard to pull off.
Even the word of God tell us that the earth is a circle.
Isaiah 40:21-22 "…21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. "
If anyone can show me a news story of someone falling off the edge of the earth please send it to me.
Anything these days to discredit creation and even claim it was from God, the devil is very busy!
It just goes to show that people are starting to believe anything simply because it is different and rebellious, without thinking it through and without praying about it.
In these last days the great deception will not be that hard to pull off.
Tolerance of Sin is not Love
Love is not tolerant of bad behavior, it promotes good behavior by having boundaries.
Tolerating evil is not love! Requiring accountability to promote growth is love.
Tolerating evil is not love! Requiring accountability to promote growth is love.
Woe to the Rebellious
Isaiah 30:1-2 "1"Woe to the rebellious children," declares the LORD, "Who execute a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin; 2 Who proceed down to Egypt Without consulting Me, To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! 3"Therefore the safety of Pharaoh will be your shame And the shelter in the shadow of Egypt, your humiliation.…"
The Advice of Wicked Church Leaders
If you claim to be a Christian and gave evil advice to a woman to look at pornography because her husband wanted her to do it, declaring that the woman must obey her husband no matter what he asks, even if it's illegal and wicked, then you are wicked and evil yourself, repent before it is too late for you.
The time for silence is over!!!!!
There are many women being abused emotionally and physically by their husbands while the church further abuses them by calling the woman evil for resisting the monstrous actions of their husbands. Women are not property to be used and abused by their husbands.
Ephesians 5:25
"25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,"
1 Peter 3:7-16
"7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
10 For, “The one who desires life, to love and see good days,
Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 “He must turn away from evil and do good;
He must seek peace and pursue it.
12 “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,
And His ears attend to their prayer,
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
Sometimes a woman will suffer for resisting the evil that her husband demands that she do, but even worse often the woman is persecuted by the church she attends, through the wicked counsel of men with no heart and no scruples. These "religious" leaders are more about dominating and oppressing women than they are about obeying the word that tells the husbands to honor, protect and deeply love their wives.
Ladies, don't fall for this mess!!!! Women are to stand up for themselves when their husband wants them to do evil. Stop listening to those who oppress you through pressure to sin simply because you are a woman. I might add too, that if a church gathering you are attending belittles you while supporting the man who is evil, then you need to get out of that group, they are not on the side of righteousness but on the side of evil.
There is an evil doctrine afoot that "guilt" women into doing evil to pacify their childish, corrupt and immoral husbands. Anyone that thinks as long as they are watching pornography between a husband and wife is alright because it is a husband and wife, think of these things:
Watching other people who are not married have immoral relations, is committing adultery against your spouse.
Matthew 5:28 "28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. "
It is sexual immorality to wish you were the one in that film or that your wife must turn into that woman on the screen. It shows your wife that you are dissatisfied with her and that she does not measure up to your personal desires.
It is dishonoring to the wife for a man to refuse to be satisfied with just her, he demeans her, mocks her and diminishes her
person-hood by exposing her to that filth, not to mention spitting in the face of God and His principles for the marriage bed.
A man is to protect his wife from all evil in the world, not only physically but also emotionally and spiritually. Any man who will not obey God in this should be put out and required to repent. If they are a believer then they should be exposed to the body of believers with whom the woman has contact. A woman who will not expose her husband is sinning and has no love for her husband. Her love ought to be so deep that she desires for him to learn righteousness instead of indulging him in filth.
Never allow a group of people or a husband to create guilt and insecurity in you by requiring you to indulge others in evil activities. The response of a woman subjected to this ought to be to confront those who oppress her, demanding that they stop their sin. If they do not, then leave their presence and never return again. One can pray for these lost and demented souls, but one does not have to remain with them.
Acts 5:29
"29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."
With a husband, those who are asked to indulge in these evil films, a woman can speak the truth to her husband, if he insists then he must be required to leave until he gets his head straight with God.
It is not loving to harm the delicate sensibilities of a woman, there is no love in these acts of domination.
2 Timothy 3:1-17
"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. ..."
Romans 8:9
"You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him."
Isaiah 59:15
"Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice."
John 13:35
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
We are living in a day when men and women are confused about right and wrong and part of the reason is the silly and unBiblical advice of so called "church leaders." Every church leader needs to be held accountable by the congregation, if they disobey the Word in their counsel then they must be rebuke, if they refuse to listen then they must be removed.
1 Corinthians 5:11 "11 But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat."
The time for silence is over!!!!!
There are many women being abused emotionally and physically by their husbands while the church further abuses them by calling the woman evil for resisting the monstrous actions of their husbands. Women are not property to be used and abused by their husbands.
Ephesians 5:25
"25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,"
1 Peter 3:7-16
"7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
10 For, “The one who desires life, to love and see good days,
Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 “He must turn away from evil and do good;
He must seek peace and pursue it.
12 “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,
And His ears attend to their prayer,
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
Sometimes a woman will suffer for resisting the evil that her husband demands that she do, but even worse often the woman is persecuted by the church she attends, through the wicked counsel of men with no heart and no scruples. These "religious" leaders are more about dominating and oppressing women than they are about obeying the word that tells the husbands to honor, protect and deeply love their wives.
Ladies, don't fall for this mess!!!! Women are to stand up for themselves when their husband wants them to do evil. Stop listening to those who oppress you through pressure to sin simply because you are a woman. I might add too, that if a church gathering you are attending belittles you while supporting the man who is evil, then you need to get out of that group, they are not on the side of righteousness but on the side of evil.
There is an evil doctrine afoot that "guilt" women into doing evil to pacify their childish, corrupt and immoral husbands. Anyone that thinks as long as they are watching pornography between a husband and wife is alright because it is a husband and wife, think of these things:
Watching other people who are not married have immoral relations, is committing adultery against your spouse.
Matthew 5:28 "28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. "
It is sexual immorality to wish you were the one in that film or that your wife must turn into that woman on the screen. It shows your wife that you are dissatisfied with her and that she does not measure up to your personal desires.
It is dishonoring to the wife for a man to refuse to be satisfied with just her, he demeans her, mocks her and diminishes her
person-hood by exposing her to that filth, not to mention spitting in the face of God and His principles for the marriage bed.
A man is to protect his wife from all evil in the world, not only physically but also emotionally and spiritually. Any man who will not obey God in this should be put out and required to repent. If they are a believer then they should be exposed to the body of believers with whom the woman has contact. A woman who will not expose her husband is sinning and has no love for her husband. Her love ought to be so deep that she desires for him to learn righteousness instead of indulging him in filth.
Never allow a group of people or a husband to create guilt and insecurity in you by requiring you to indulge others in evil activities. The response of a woman subjected to this ought to be to confront those who oppress her, demanding that they stop their sin. If they do not, then leave their presence and never return again. One can pray for these lost and demented souls, but one does not have to remain with them.
Acts 5:29
"29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."
With a husband, those who are asked to indulge in these evil films, a woman can speak the truth to her husband, if he insists then he must be required to leave until he gets his head straight with God.
It is not loving to harm the delicate sensibilities of a woman, there is no love in these acts of domination.
2 Timothy 3:1-17
"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. ..."
Romans 8:9
"You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him."
Isaiah 59:15
"Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice."
John 13:35
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
We are living in a day when men and women are confused about right and wrong and part of the reason is the silly and unBiblical advice of so called "church leaders." Every church leader needs to be held accountable by the congregation, if they disobey the Word in their counsel then they must be rebuke, if they refuse to listen then they must be removed.
1 Corinthians 5:11 "11 But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat."
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Will There Be Any Faith?
Luke 18:7-14
"7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
"7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
Children Make Their Own Choices
I encourage those parents who did the right things with their children, although not perfectly because no one can be a perfect parent, that children often know the right things to do because we taught them, but the pull of the culture was far too strong.
So strong that the children became like gang members do, they throw over their parents for their new family, that is the gang, to be accepted by the world, the world is their gang.
They emulate the world to have "more" friends and to seem "cool", appearances and popularity are their aim. They often do not realize what they are throwing away in terms of loving and caring parents.
The gang or the world doesn't care about them, but their parents did, it the deepest way possible. Teaching them things they knew would make for a better, more content and loving lifestyle.
If anyone hears their children blaming them for not being the perfect parent, throw it back to them by asking them if they thought they could be the perfect parent. Usually, the claims of the narcissistic adult children are empty, trivial and superficial. Most accusations against the parents I have known are nothing more than rebellion against authority, anger at the "rules" or the parent having to lecture the children in order to teach them right from wrong. The adult children resisted counsel from their parents just as they reject it from God in their adult years.
Only God the Father was the perfect parent and even Adam and Eve chose to ignore His warnings and throw away His blessings to do things their own way. They didn't believe God or they would have trusted that He was protecting them. Just as the adult children of today could interpret their parents advice as a protection for them and even be grateful for it, but many choose to spurn the wisdom of their elders while tormenting them for even suggesting a need for a different path.
Many "Christians" say they believe the Bible but violate so many of God's principles that it must be said that they do not trust God, or they would obey Him.
John 14:21
"Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him."
Of course no one will keep the commandments perfectly because we are still trapped in this body of death, the flesh which wars against the Spirit that lives in us. However, this does not leave us with any excuse because God promised to give us what we need to resist the flesh.
Romans 7:23-25 "…23 But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.…"
Philippians 4:13
"13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
James 4:6-8 "6 But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.…"
Not one child on this earth can blame their parents for their sins. God gave us the parents we had, He knew what our plight was and that we could always turn to Him for help. Rejecting and mocking our parents is the same as rejecting and mocking God, not because they are gods, but because the Lord gave us our parents.
Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you."
There are no Scriptures that say that a child can dishonor their parents just because they may not be a good parents or that they were not perfect.
Ezekiel 18:19-21 "19"Yet you say, 'Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity?' When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live.
20"The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.
21"But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.…"
Each person will be accountable to God for his/her own actions no matter what their parents or anyone else did to them. We can boldly admit what we went through, telling the truth about it, but we cannot blame our own sins or bad attitudes on our parents or anyone else.
There is no excuse ever for dishonoring parents, those who love their parents unconditionally as the Bible instructs, will never dishonor them. In fact, a loving adult child who has an alcoholic parent would feel sorrow and empathy rather than hate and mocking.
Rebellious adult children often dishonor their parents, not by what they do to the parents, although sometimes that, but how the adult child has chosen to live their lives in rebellion toward God.
Psalm 50:16-21 "But to the wicked God says,
“What right have you to tell of My statutes
And to take My covenant in your mouth?
17 “For you hate discipline,
And you cast My words behind you.
18 “When you see a thief, you are pleased with him,
And you associate with adulterers.
19 “You let your mouth loose in evil
And your tongue frames deceit.
20 “You sit and speak against your brother;
You slander your own mother’s son.
21 “These things you have done and I kept silence;
You thought that I was just like you;
I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes."
When an adult child refuses to listen to a warning, refuses to honor their parent and even mocks and demeans them, then that child is in danger of God's wrath.
If you are an adult child and you feel justified in mocking, demeaning and rejecting a parent who has attempted to instruct you in God's principles, then you are dishonoring your parent, even God because He has ordained that parent.
Some would make the excuse that adult children should only listen to the father of the family, God never said anything like that either in His word, here is what He did say;
Proverbs 1:7-9 "7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction And do not forsake your mother's teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck."
In the KJV the Lord says it this way:
"My son, hear the INSTRUCTION of thy father, and forsake not the LAW of thy mother:"
Adult children who choose to mock, demean and reject their mother's teaching is rejecting the principle of God. When a mother sees this happening then she is instructed by God to walk away from her adult children, leaving them to God to deal with.
Deuteronomy 21:18-21
“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the VOICE OF HIS FATHER or the VOICE OF HIS MOTHER, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to THEM, then his FATHER AND MOTHER shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey OUR voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear."
The father and mother have equal authority, if one overrides the other then the thing does not happen, but if both agree then the thing happens. This is a matter of AGREEMENT in the marriage as to the action to be taken.
If anyone is teaching that the father of the house has all authority without the input of the mother, then they are cultic. The father is the leader but he is not a dictator who forces everyone to do things his way, he counsels with his wife. A man who is a dictator is in violation of God's Word and in sin.
I have actually heard people say that if a woman of God is instructed by her husband to watch pornography, she is to do it because he said so. This is a wicked instruction and should be rejected, while refusing to listen to that person ever again about anything. Anyone who would not recognize the violation of the word of God, forcing a believer to violate their conscience as well as indulge them in something that is extremely damaging to their heart and their marriage, is a fool and evil, never listen to these people, in fact run away from them as fast as you can.
So strong that the children became like gang members do, they throw over their parents for their new family, that is the gang, to be accepted by the world, the world is their gang.
They emulate the world to have "more" friends and to seem "cool", appearances and popularity are their aim. They often do not realize what they are throwing away in terms of loving and caring parents.
The gang or the world doesn't care about them, but their parents did, it the deepest way possible. Teaching them things they knew would make for a better, more content and loving lifestyle.
If anyone hears their children blaming them for not being the perfect parent, throw it back to them by asking them if they thought they could be the perfect parent. Usually, the claims of the narcissistic adult children are empty, trivial and superficial. Most accusations against the parents I have known are nothing more than rebellion against authority, anger at the "rules" or the parent having to lecture the children in order to teach them right from wrong. The adult children resisted counsel from their parents just as they reject it from God in their adult years.
Only God the Father was the perfect parent and even Adam and Eve chose to ignore His warnings and throw away His blessings to do things their own way. They didn't believe God or they would have trusted that He was protecting them. Just as the adult children of today could interpret their parents advice as a protection for them and even be grateful for it, but many choose to spurn the wisdom of their elders while tormenting them for even suggesting a need for a different path.
Many "Christians" say they believe the Bible but violate so many of God's principles that it must be said that they do not trust God, or they would obey Him.
John 14:21
"Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him."
Of course no one will keep the commandments perfectly because we are still trapped in this body of death, the flesh which wars against the Spirit that lives in us. However, this does not leave us with any excuse because God promised to give us what we need to resist the flesh.
Romans 7:23-25 "…23 But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.…"
Philippians 4:13
"13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
James 4:6-8 "6 But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.…"
Not one child on this earth can blame their parents for their sins. God gave us the parents we had, He knew what our plight was and that we could always turn to Him for help. Rejecting and mocking our parents is the same as rejecting and mocking God, not because they are gods, but because the Lord gave us our parents.
Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you."
There are no Scriptures that say that a child can dishonor their parents just because they may not be a good parents or that they were not perfect.
Ezekiel 18:19-21 "19"Yet you say, 'Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity?' When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live.
20"The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.
21"But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.…"
Each person will be accountable to God for his/her own actions no matter what their parents or anyone else did to them. We can boldly admit what we went through, telling the truth about it, but we cannot blame our own sins or bad attitudes on our parents or anyone else.
There is no excuse ever for dishonoring parents, those who love their parents unconditionally as the Bible instructs, will never dishonor them. In fact, a loving adult child who has an alcoholic parent would feel sorrow and empathy rather than hate and mocking.
Rebellious adult children often dishonor their parents, not by what they do to the parents, although sometimes that, but how the adult child has chosen to live their lives in rebellion toward God.
Psalm 50:16-21 "But to the wicked God says,
“What right have you to tell of My statutes
And to take My covenant in your mouth?
17 “For you hate discipline,
And you cast My words behind you.
18 “When you see a thief, you are pleased with him,
And you associate with adulterers.
19 “You let your mouth loose in evil
And your tongue frames deceit.
20 “You sit and speak against your brother;
You slander your own mother’s son.
21 “These things you have done and I kept silence;
You thought that I was just like you;
I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes."
When an adult child refuses to listen to a warning, refuses to honor their parent and even mocks and demeans them, then that child is in danger of God's wrath.
If you are an adult child and you feel justified in mocking, demeaning and rejecting a parent who has attempted to instruct you in God's principles, then you are dishonoring your parent, even God because He has ordained that parent.
Some would make the excuse that adult children should only listen to the father of the family, God never said anything like that either in His word, here is what He did say;
Proverbs 1:7-9 "7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction And do not forsake your mother's teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck."
In the KJV the Lord says it this way:
"My son, hear the INSTRUCTION of thy father, and forsake not the LAW of thy mother:"
Adult children who choose to mock, demean and reject their mother's teaching is rejecting the principle of God. When a mother sees this happening then she is instructed by God to walk away from her adult children, leaving them to God to deal with.
Deuteronomy 21:18-21
“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the VOICE OF HIS FATHER or the VOICE OF HIS MOTHER, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to THEM, then his FATHER AND MOTHER shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey OUR voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear."
The father and mother have equal authority, if one overrides the other then the thing does not happen, but if both agree then the thing happens. This is a matter of AGREEMENT in the marriage as to the action to be taken.
If anyone is teaching that the father of the house has all authority without the input of the mother, then they are cultic. The father is the leader but he is not a dictator who forces everyone to do things his way, he counsels with his wife. A man who is a dictator is in violation of God's Word and in sin.
I have actually heard people say that if a woman of God is instructed by her husband to watch pornography, she is to do it because he said so. This is a wicked instruction and should be rejected, while refusing to listen to that person ever again about anything. Anyone who would not recognize the violation of the word of God, forcing a believer to violate their conscience as well as indulge them in something that is extremely damaging to their heart and their marriage, is a fool and evil, never listen to these people, in fact run away from them as fast as you can.
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Modern Pharisees
If you find yourself at odds with people in the church who claim to be Christian, and even the leadership there, then you are experiencing what Christ did in the days He walked on earth.
The most rebellious people during the time of Christ's walk on earth were those who were religious leaders.
2 Timothy 3:5
"5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
Matthew 23:1-12
Pharisaism Exposed
23 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples,
2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses;
3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.
4 They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.
5 But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.
6 They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men.
8 But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.
9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
10 Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11 But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted."
The most rebellious people during the time of Christ's walk on earth were those who were religious leaders.
2 Timothy 3:5
"5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
Matthew 23:1-12
Pharisaism Exposed
23 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples,
2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses;
3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.
4 They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.
5 But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.
6 They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men.
8 But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.
9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
10 Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11 But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted."
Appearances: the god of the Narcissist
Appearances and words are the gods of the narcissist.
Substance and action are the qualities of the righteous man.
Anyone can say anything, but the one who does what is God's will is counted as righteous.
Romans 12:2
"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."
1 Peter 2:15
"For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people."
Ephesians 5:17
"Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
Matthew 6:33
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
We cannot do the will of God if we do not understand it and we cannot understand it unless we are reading the Bible and asking the Holy Spirit to bring the wisdom.
Substance and action are the qualities of the righteous man.
Anyone can say anything, but the one who does what is God's will is counted as righteous.
Romans 12:2
"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."
1 Peter 2:15
"For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people."
Ephesians 5:17
"Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
Matthew 6:33
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
We cannot do the will of God if we do not understand it and we cannot understand it unless we are reading the Bible and asking the Holy Spirit to bring the wisdom.
Substance Over Appearances
Narcissists care little about substance, they are more deeply invested in appearances. And, often becomes angry when there is any accountability.
God says this!
James 2:14-26
"14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
God says this!
James 2:14-26
"14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
The Sanhedrin are at it Again!
The Sanhedrin endorsed Trump and wanted him to pray at the wailing wall in Jerusalem. Trump is neither Jewish nor Christian, what's up with this?
The Sanhedrin does not know the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are excited about Trump, once again they are looking for a political leader rather than a Savior.
The Sanhedrin does not know the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are excited about Trump, once again they are looking for a political leader rather than a Savior.
Monday, May 22, 2017
He Gives Grace to the Humble
James 4:6-8
"6 But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.…"
"6 But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.…"
Nuggets from an Urgent Call
Excellent, It is my observation that most people who claim to be Christian follow very little of the Word of God.
Dave Hunt
Nuggets from An Urgent Call to a Serious Faith by Dave Hunt – Passing the Test
The litmus test of truth for victorious Christian living must be: Is it derived from Scripture, or is it the wisdom of this world, packaged in Christian terminology in order to make it appear to be compatible with Scripture? This test should be applied not only to the sermons and writings of others but to ourselves. We should each get on our knees and ask God, “How much of my daily life is rooted in Your Word, and how much is rooted in the world? When I am happiest, is it because I know I have pleased my heavenly Father, am rejoicing in His grace and love, and the ‘joy of the Lord is my strength’ (Nehemiah:8:10 )? Or is it because I have achieved worldly goals that bring the same joy to those who ‘know not God and obey not the gospel’ (2 Thessalonians:1:8 )?”
Jesus accused the Pharisees of establishing traditions that nullified Scripture. Even the clear command to “Honour thy father and mother” had been turned completely around by the Pharisees (Matthew:15:1-6 ). Christ indicted them with their having established a system of religion that allowed men seemingly to honor God outwardly while in their hearts they remained committed to self. What left men’s hearts far from God while their lips seemed to praise Him? Christ summed up His indictment by declaring that Israel’s religious leaders had substituted the traditions of men for the true doctrine of God’s Word (verses 7-9).
The human traditions that Christ exposed and opposed had at least been developed by religious leaders who presumably were sincere in their desire to please God. The traditions of men, however, that Christian psychology has embraced and brought into the church have been developed by godless humanists and self-confessed atheists who openly oppose biblical Christianity. Indeed, their theories are a secular religion put forth in opposition to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Along with this same “leaven of the Pharisees,” something even worse is fermenting in today’s church. May God help us to boldly expose and oppose these deadly errors and to stand uncompromisingly for obedience to His Word.
Dave Hunt
Nuggets from An Urgent Call to a Serious Faith by Dave Hunt – Passing the Test
The litmus test of truth for victorious Christian living must be: Is it derived from Scripture, or is it the wisdom of this world, packaged in Christian terminology in order to make it appear to be compatible with Scripture? This test should be applied not only to the sermons and writings of others but to ourselves. We should each get on our knees and ask God, “How much of my daily life is rooted in Your Word, and how much is rooted in the world? When I am happiest, is it because I know I have pleased my heavenly Father, am rejoicing in His grace and love, and the ‘joy of the Lord is my strength’ (Nehemiah:8:10 )? Or is it because I have achieved worldly goals that bring the same joy to those who ‘know not God and obey not the gospel’ (2 Thessalonians:1:8 )?”
Jesus accused the Pharisees of establishing traditions that nullified Scripture. Even the clear command to “Honour thy father and mother” had been turned completely around by the Pharisees (Matthew:15:1-6 ). Christ indicted them with their having established a system of religion that allowed men seemingly to honor God outwardly while in their hearts they remained committed to self. What left men’s hearts far from God while their lips seemed to praise Him? Christ summed up His indictment by declaring that Israel’s religious leaders had substituted the traditions of men for the true doctrine of God’s Word (verses 7-9).
The human traditions that Christ exposed and opposed had at least been developed by religious leaders who presumably were sincere in their desire to please God. The traditions of men, however, that Christian psychology has embraced and brought into the church have been developed by godless humanists and self-confessed atheists who openly oppose biblical Christianity. Indeed, their theories are a secular religion put forth in opposition to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Along with this same “leaven of the Pharisees,” something even worse is fermenting in today’s church. May God help us to boldly expose and oppose these deadly errors and to stand uncompromisingly for obedience to His Word.
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