Maxine Waters, the woman who is promoting bullying by calling for Democrats to harass anyone in Trump's cabinet, is herself the worst kind of bully.
There can be only pure evil in someone who feels so empowered that she can stand in front of a microphone declaring emotional and verbal war on those who disagree with her.
Does anyone else see the devil using the mouth of this woman. Never in all my years have I seen in our country a political dignitary encourage harassment and anarchy toward those of opposing views.
This woman doesn't even have the presence of mind to realize that this sort of bullying may very well work against her. There are reasonable and rational Democrats who may see this for what it is, a narcissistic attempt at coercing others, declaring that they have no right to a differing opinion.
May I suggest that all those Democrats out there who are not bullies, speak out against Maxine Waters. Reminding those who think differently, that not all Democrats are as foolish as this woman. Perhaps even making it clear that everyone in this country has freedom to speak without being mistreated.
I see no conservatives calling for bullying tactics against others who disagree. I only see conservatives declaring their right to speak openly and honestly about their views.
Rational and reasonable people use arguments of persuasion to win others to their side, they never bully, mock, demean or force others to comply.
Sadly these same tactics are being used everywhere now. Even in the Christian community so full of pretenders, there is hostility toward those who speak openly about truth. Perhaps we are becoming used to it, so much so that we think we don't have a right to speak openly about our views. Perhaps we have become marshmellos allowing the community of narcissists to intimidate us into silence. There is no excuse to be disrespectfully treated simply because there is a disagreement.
When we encounter these bullies long enough we begin to think we did something wrong by expressing ourselves. I am here to tell you that in this country you have a right to speak boldly about your beliefs, if the hearer becomes angry, that anger is on them not you.
If the crowd in the room stands with the bully, then they too are bullies, pay them no mind. Spend no time agonizing over their rejection. Then go home and pray that the Lord will open their eyes to the truth.
1 John 4:3-5 "…3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is already in the world at this time. 4 You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them."
1 Peter 5:7-9 "…7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering."
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Words and Actions do not save anyone!
There is false conversion that is based on outward appearances and words. This is not becoming born again.
Acts 16:30-31 "“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Matthew 7:21-23 tells us about those who never believed in Christ. These people joined a club thinking it will make them look good or be good in the eyes of men. They thought if they appeared to be good enough, do enough good deeds, then they would be accepted by those around them. In short, they liked being seen as a good person, but had no interest in Christ.
Matthew 7:21-23
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Acts 16:30-31 "“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Matthew 7:21-23 tells us about those who never believed in Christ. These people joined a club thinking it will make them look good or be good in the eyes of men. They thought if they appeared to be good enough, do enough good deeds, then they would be accepted by those around them. In short, they liked being seen as a good person, but had no interest in Christ.
Matthew 7:21-23
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Accountability Promotes Healing
We should require confession of sin before extending forgiveness. We do not treat people badly because they have offended us, but if they keep doing it after being told about it then we need to remove ourselves from them. 2 Timothy 3:1-5, look at verse 5.
God never said that we should forgive without confession. We are to forgive as God forgave, that is when there is confession. 1 John 1:9
Also, when we restore a relationship when someone is not sorry for their actions, we are enablers, thwarting God's way of dealing with sin Those who are not held accountable get worse, we are not helping them by pretending nothing happened.
Isaiah 26:10 "10Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD. "
It is the easier and more selfish thing to "just let it go", this avoids conflict, but it does not resolve problems.
God never said that we should forgive without confession. We are to forgive as God forgave, that is when there is confession. 1 John 1:9
Also, when we restore a relationship when someone is not sorry for their actions, we are enablers, thwarting God's way of dealing with sin Those who are not held accountable get worse, we are not helping them by pretending nothing happened.
Isaiah 26:10 "10Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD. "
It is the easier and more selfish thing to "just let it go", this avoids conflict, but it does not resolve problems.
Usurping the Holy Spirit is Sin
No man has a right to dictate who we witness to or when we should do it Usurping the Holy Spirit in another believer is sin.
Many years ago we attended a church that was picketed by the local homosexual group. The reason we were targeted was because there was a program within the church that helped homosexuals move beyond their addiction to become cleansed from it. There were former homosexuals attending the gathering who witnessed the changed life and spoke openly about it.
Sadly though, when the picketers came the pastor issued an edict to the congregation to refrain from witnessing to the picketers while they were circling in the street in protest.
There were believers who were assigned to watch over the crowd to keep the church attendees from engaging with the homosexuals. There were refreshments served to the protesters while no one gave them the gospel. We were to be friendly but not to lecture them about Christ.
Ignoring this edict I entered the picketers to speak to them about Christ. As I approached their protest a church goer grabbed my arm to prevent me from speaking to them. I turned in anger and rebuked her in the name of Jesus Christ and she immediately backed off.
As I marched in the procession to speak to the leader of the group who was carrying the long banner, I appealed to her to consider her lifestyle according to the Bible. As I spoke to her in loving and soft tones she began to cry. She told me she tried Christianity but found no love there. As I explained the great love of Christ and what He did for her, the tears began to flow.
It was interesting to me that all around me were hostile and shouting homosexuals who remained quiet the entire time I was speaking to the leader. God restrained them and closed their mouths for the time I was with her.
I don't know what happened after that, the group disbanned while we went into the services. The pastor praised the people who didn't approach them, those who served them cookies and drink with big plastic smiles, but said nothing to them.
There were a handfull of others out in the street defying the pastors edict, those were the faithful ones, the ones who placed Christ above the flawed and disobedient rule of the one man pastor.
That pastor had no right to command anyone in the gathering not to witness Christ. He had no authority to dictate to the believers what they should say, where they should go or to whom they should speak. That pastor was usurping the leading of the Holy Spirit to keep his church out of trouble.
Shame on him, shame on him.
Acts 5:29
"29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."
God never told us to comfort sinners in their sin, nor did He teach "friendliness evangelism." Yes we are kind when we speak to people, but we do not manipulate them to cause them to accept the truth, we state the truth in love and leave their response to the Lord.
There is no faith in remaining silent to keep out of trouble. Sure some people many have been angry at the witnessing that was going on that day, so what!!! They hate the apostles and Christ, they were martyred for their faith.
People do become angry often when we speak truth no matter how we say it. People don't become angry because of our delivery, they become angry because they don't like the message or the conviction they feel over their sin.
2 Corinthians 7:8-10
8 For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while—
9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.
10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death."
Many years ago we attended a church that was picketed by the local homosexual group. The reason we were targeted was because there was a program within the church that helped homosexuals move beyond their addiction to become cleansed from it. There were former homosexuals attending the gathering who witnessed the changed life and spoke openly about it.
Sadly though, when the picketers came the pastor issued an edict to the congregation to refrain from witnessing to the picketers while they were circling in the street in protest.
There were believers who were assigned to watch over the crowd to keep the church attendees from engaging with the homosexuals. There were refreshments served to the protesters while no one gave them the gospel. We were to be friendly but not to lecture them about Christ.
Ignoring this edict I entered the picketers to speak to them about Christ. As I approached their protest a church goer grabbed my arm to prevent me from speaking to them. I turned in anger and rebuked her in the name of Jesus Christ and she immediately backed off.
As I marched in the procession to speak to the leader of the group who was carrying the long banner, I appealed to her to consider her lifestyle according to the Bible. As I spoke to her in loving and soft tones she began to cry. She told me she tried Christianity but found no love there. As I explained the great love of Christ and what He did for her, the tears began to flow.
It was interesting to me that all around me were hostile and shouting homosexuals who remained quiet the entire time I was speaking to the leader. God restrained them and closed their mouths for the time I was with her.
I don't know what happened after that, the group disbanned while we went into the services. The pastor praised the people who didn't approach them, those who served them cookies and drink with big plastic smiles, but said nothing to them.
There were a handfull of others out in the street defying the pastors edict, those were the faithful ones, the ones who placed Christ above the flawed and disobedient rule of the one man pastor.
That pastor had no right to command anyone in the gathering not to witness Christ. He had no authority to dictate to the believers what they should say, where they should go or to whom they should speak. That pastor was usurping the leading of the Holy Spirit to keep his church out of trouble.
Shame on him, shame on him.
Acts 5:29
"29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."
God never told us to comfort sinners in their sin, nor did He teach "friendliness evangelism." Yes we are kind when we speak to people, but we do not manipulate them to cause them to accept the truth, we state the truth in love and leave their response to the Lord.
There is no faith in remaining silent to keep out of trouble. Sure some people many have been angry at the witnessing that was going on that day, so what!!! They hate the apostles and Christ, they were martyred for their faith.
People do become angry often when we speak truth no matter how we say it. People don't become angry because of our delivery, they become angry because they don't like the message or the conviction they feel over their sin.
2 Corinthians 7:8-10
8 For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while—
9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.
10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death."
Nebuchadnezzar and Trump Have Something in Common
I view our president Trump as similar to a Nebuchadnezzar type leader. He is not born again but honors the God of Israel. God is using him in these end times to bring about the prophetic events in the Middle East.
Our prayer ought to be for the salvation of our president. The other things he promotes that we like, are not nearly as important as his salvation and the salvation of his entire family.
1 Timothy 2:1-3 "1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men 2 for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. 3T his is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,"
Our prayer ought to be for the salvation of our president. The other things he promotes that we like, are not nearly as important as his salvation and the salvation of his entire family.
1 Timothy 2:1-3 "1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men 2 for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. 3T his is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,"
The Vulgar Language Give You Away
It doesn't matter to me if you call yourself Christian, or that you say all the right things. If you use crude and vulgar language of the world to express your ire toward sin, then I will be deleting you. I will not respond to chats or any other communication that has within it filthy and crude language.
I know that language has changed over the years. Christian are using language that our mothers would have become angry over, even washing our mouths out with soap for using.
In fact most of this vulgar language I am hearing on facebook was not even heard in the culture as a whole just 40 years ago.
Only drunken sailors and disreputable types who were not accepted by decent family members would have used this language.
The use of this language suggests to me that the people using it have been watching unsavory movies A LOT, so much so that they fail to be discomforted anymore by the hearing of it.
If you have reached the point where you are so comfortable with this language that you are not embarrassed to be heard using it in front of other believers, then you are walking in sin, desensitized by all the movies you have been watching.
If you have close friends who are using this language regularly, then my guess is that they are not born again friends. You must stop the use of this language and expunge yourself from the lives of those who think crude speech is "cool", popularizing themselves to fit in with the rest of the unregenerate culture.
Here's the thing; you are using that language because you are watching things that normalize it. If you do not have the strength to watch those movies without being influenced by them, then you must break free from that entertainment, cold turkey.
When we become born again one of the first things that changes is our comfort with the filthy language. We don't have to try to stop it, we just hate it and it drops from our vocabulary. If someone is still indulging in filthy language without a conscience over it, then perhaps they need to ask God if they have ever been born again.
Colossians 3:8
"But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth."
Ephesians 4:29
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear."
Psalm 19:14
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer."
Romans 1:28-30 "Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and hatred. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents."
Do you want to be like the people mentioned in Romans 1, as a believer this vulgar language should repulse you.
Just saying!!!!
I know that language has changed over the years. Christian are using language that our mothers would have become angry over, even washing our mouths out with soap for using.
In fact most of this vulgar language I am hearing on facebook was not even heard in the culture as a whole just 40 years ago.
Only drunken sailors and disreputable types who were not accepted by decent family members would have used this language.
The use of this language suggests to me that the people using it have been watching unsavory movies A LOT, so much so that they fail to be discomforted anymore by the hearing of it.
If you have reached the point where you are so comfortable with this language that you are not embarrassed to be heard using it in front of other believers, then you are walking in sin, desensitized by all the movies you have been watching.
If you have close friends who are using this language regularly, then my guess is that they are not born again friends. You must stop the use of this language and expunge yourself from the lives of those who think crude speech is "cool", popularizing themselves to fit in with the rest of the unregenerate culture.
Here's the thing; you are using that language because you are watching things that normalize it. If you do not have the strength to watch those movies without being influenced by them, then you must break free from that entertainment, cold turkey.
When we become born again one of the first things that changes is our comfort with the filthy language. We don't have to try to stop it, we just hate it and it drops from our vocabulary. If someone is still indulging in filthy language without a conscience over it, then perhaps they need to ask God if they have ever been born again.
Colossians 3:8
"But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth."
Ephesians 4:29
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear."
Psalm 19:14
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer."
Romans 1:28-30 "Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and hatred. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents."
Do you want to be like the people mentioned in Romans 1, as a believer this vulgar language should repulse you.
Just saying!!!!
Friday, June 29, 2018
Going to Worship God!
We attend the gathering of believers to learn to be more holy, to confess sin and to encourage one another, but mostly we come together to worship as in the Lord's supper. God said to do it "every time" we gather, which is violated these days.
Worship first and then teaching to know God and grow in holiness. We do not gather just to be friendly leaving sick people sick, we encourage them to heal in Christ.
1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
If we confess we will be cleansed.
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. "
Worship first and then teaching to know God and grow in holiness. We do not gather just to be friendly leaving sick people sick, we encourage them to heal in Christ.
1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
If we confess we will be cleansed.
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. "
Narcissists, Otherwise Known as Democrat Legislators
In reference to Schumer declaring that he will go against Trump's new nominee for the Supreme Court no matter who it is and the same way that Biden is calling for immigrants to rise up against Trump.
The voice of a bratty narcissist otherwise known as a Democrat, is this; "if you don't do what I say I will go against everything you do and say, just to frustrate you." "Then I will claim you said and did things you didn't say and do."
Oh by the way we are seeing this same mentality among family members. The same foolishness we see in politics and family dynamics is perpetrated by the same culprit, that is the devil himself.
The devil never changes his tactics, they remain the same everywhere, all over the world.
1 Peter 5:7-9 "…7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering."
Believers please do not fear the foolishness that is growing upon the earth, we know where it comes from and Who to trust.
The voice of a bratty narcissist otherwise known as a Democrat, is this; "if you don't do what I say I will go against everything you do and say, just to frustrate you." "Then I will claim you said and did things you didn't say and do."
Oh by the way we are seeing this same mentality among family members. The same foolishness we see in politics and family dynamics is perpetrated by the same culprit, that is the devil himself.
The devil never changes his tactics, they remain the same everywhere, all over the world.
1 Peter 5:7-9 "…7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering."
Believers please do not fear the foolishness that is growing upon the earth, we know where it comes from and Who to trust.
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Jealousy a Monster that is Hidden
Narcissists begin with their desired premise, the way they wish to view someone and then build a construct about them that they want to believe.
If you are a person who thinks for themselves, who evaluates things to come to a knowledge of truth, then you will be targets of those who love their fantasy.
The narcissist will interpret every action and every word we say in light of their own desired premise about us.
One good example of this are the scientists who chose to believe there is no God. They set out to prove another way the universe came about rather than the way it really occurred. Then the public institutions, who are hostile toward God, began to brainwash the children in them, to belief their way.
We see this same dynamic in relationships too. The one who desires to see their target as a bad person, perhaps out of jealousy, will construct in their own mind a myriad of ideas about that person, based on nothing more than their own prejudice, after which they begin to impart their ideas to others.
There was a couple who adopted several older children. The children knew their bio parents and were resistant to any acceptance of the adoptive parents. These parents also had two natural children of their own. A family member who was hostile toward his sister, the adoptive mother, began spreading lies about the couple out of jealousy.
This brother told his sister's parents that she and her husband were raising the children badly, that they paid more attention to the natural children and that's why the adoptive children went off into rebellion.
The truth was that when children are older and already rebellious when you get them, there is no turning them around except for them to accept Christ.
This jealous brother lived a thousand miles away, never visited, never wrote and never called to know anything about what was going on in the household of the adopted children, but he passed on his contrived information as though it were fact, to other members of the family.
When the father of the brother objected, claiming the things he was saying were not true, the brother exploded in rage at his father, hoping that raging would intimidate the father into accepting the brother's opinion. This is the nature of narcissism, when they cannot control the thoughts and opinions of others they will rage, attempting to intimidate those that will not comply.
When a narcissist does not like someone, their favored tactic is to presume everything they say and do is bad without any reflection on other possibilities. The devil has twisted the mind to see things the way the devil wants them to be seen. The purpose is to cause a broken relationship, especially if the people involved are Christians.
Without family support there is greater possibility of failure. However for the believer, we have no need of family support when we have Christ. Christ is enough, we can carry on in obedience in spite of the lies of the narcissist.
Sadly there are many of these narcissists and liars in the church gatherings. They bring arrogance and an attitude of superiority, the down fall of any gathering. Far too many people remain silent when they see it, or often the narcissist hides it while demonstrating a false humility and friendliness to those they wish to impress while poking at those they do not respect.
The narcissist respect only those that elevate them personally. They disrespect anyone who shows them their true self, the one they hide from everyone else.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 and Matthew 7:21-23 tell us what these people look like. They do good deeds, they stay out of trouble for the most part, but the abound in haughtiness and an exalted stance.
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."
Matthew 7:21-23
"21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [a]miracles?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
1 Corinthians 13:2 "2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."
There are those in the church who have much knowledge about the Bible but little about Christ-like love.
The solution; we should all be examining our motives and our responses while praying for Christ to make us into His image. When we walk closely with Christ we will not be seeking to undermine others to elevate self.
If you are a person who thinks for themselves, who evaluates things to come to a knowledge of truth, then you will be targets of those who love their fantasy.
The narcissist will interpret every action and every word we say in light of their own desired premise about us.
One good example of this are the scientists who chose to believe there is no God. They set out to prove another way the universe came about rather than the way it really occurred. Then the public institutions, who are hostile toward God, began to brainwash the children in them, to belief their way.
We see this same dynamic in relationships too. The one who desires to see their target as a bad person, perhaps out of jealousy, will construct in their own mind a myriad of ideas about that person, based on nothing more than their own prejudice, after which they begin to impart their ideas to others.
There was a couple who adopted several older children. The children knew their bio parents and were resistant to any acceptance of the adoptive parents. These parents also had two natural children of their own. A family member who was hostile toward his sister, the adoptive mother, began spreading lies about the couple out of jealousy.
This brother told his sister's parents that she and her husband were raising the children badly, that they paid more attention to the natural children and that's why the adoptive children went off into rebellion.
The truth was that when children are older and already rebellious when you get them, there is no turning them around except for them to accept Christ.
This jealous brother lived a thousand miles away, never visited, never wrote and never called to know anything about what was going on in the household of the adopted children, but he passed on his contrived information as though it were fact, to other members of the family.
When the father of the brother objected, claiming the things he was saying were not true, the brother exploded in rage at his father, hoping that raging would intimidate the father into accepting the brother's opinion. This is the nature of narcissism, when they cannot control the thoughts and opinions of others they will rage, attempting to intimidate those that will not comply.
When a narcissist does not like someone, their favored tactic is to presume everything they say and do is bad without any reflection on other possibilities. The devil has twisted the mind to see things the way the devil wants them to be seen. The purpose is to cause a broken relationship, especially if the people involved are Christians.
Without family support there is greater possibility of failure. However for the believer, we have no need of family support when we have Christ. Christ is enough, we can carry on in obedience in spite of the lies of the narcissist.
Sadly there are many of these narcissists and liars in the church gatherings. They bring arrogance and an attitude of superiority, the down fall of any gathering. Far too many people remain silent when they see it, or often the narcissist hides it while demonstrating a false humility and friendliness to those they wish to impress while poking at those they do not respect.
The narcissist respect only those that elevate them personally. They disrespect anyone who shows them their true self, the one they hide from everyone else.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 and Matthew 7:21-23 tell us what these people look like. They do good deeds, they stay out of trouble for the most part, but the abound in haughtiness and an exalted stance.
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."
Matthew 7:21-23
"21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [a]miracles?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
1 Corinthians 13:2 "2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."
There are those in the church who have much knowledge about the Bible but little about Christ-like love.
The solution; we should all be examining our motives and our responses while praying for Christ to make us into His image. When we walk closely with Christ we will not be seeking to undermine others to elevate self.
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Born Again By Faith in Christ
When we become born again we do it by faith in Christ, then His grace saves us, that is when HE comes to live in us and begins the cleansing process.
Ephesians 1:13-15 "…13 And in Him you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, having heard and believed the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. 14 The Spirit is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory. "
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 "…21 Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us, 22 placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come. "
We are sealed with the Kings seal, never to be lost again, however, He does discipline those He loves.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"
Ephesians 1:13-15 "…13 And in Him you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, having heard and believed the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. 14 The Spirit is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory. "
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 "…21 Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us, 22 placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come. "
We are sealed with the Kings seal, never to be lost again, however, He does discipline those He loves.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"
Trump is not the Answer Christ Is the Answer
I have had people accuse me of hating our president merely because I speak honestly about him.
We have no right to ask for blessing as a country when the drug culture, filthy movies and divorce and remarriage are more rampant than ever. It doesn't matter how many good things are president appears to be, if the people he serves are selfish and greedy anything he does will have little effect.
Babies are still dying as people continue to be angry every day when they are told what they are doing is wrong and that they need Christ.
NO, America is not getting better, spiritually and emotionally it is declining, we are getting worse every single day.
I don't hate Trump, I have prayed for his salvation, but I do not hold him in high regard, I do not say he is a Christian. He is just a man who has been appointed by God to do this job right now. If I were in his presence I would treat him with respect because of his position.
My focus is the condition of these end times and the fact that America is going down for the count. Putting up a wall, or a better economy is not going to save a spiritually bankrupt people.
The heart of the people is getting worse, more prideful, more greedy and more deceived. The church is in terrible deception and the people don't even realize it.
When we attempt to explain what the real Church of born again believers looks like, we are met with irritation and resistance. The apostasy is here in force and there is no turning back now.
Adult children are disrespectful to their parents and think they have a good reason, clearly in violation of the Scriptures that tell children to honor their parents. The parent that is disrespected the worst is the one who places boundaries and speaks boldly about truth. Those parents who say nothing, do nothing and pretend to be nothing are loved by their rebellious children.
Daring to be bold in a time of rebellion will bring difficulties, but it will also bring peace in our hearts as we seek to please the only One who really matters, that is Jesus Christ.
Keep on looking up saints, it won't be long now. We cannot allow the rebellious hearts of others dictate our course.
Those who place their trust in a country or a leader will not be able to focus on Christ.
Jeremiah 23:15-17 "…15 Therefore, this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets: “I will feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.”
16 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. 17 They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD says that you will have peace,’ and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’"
We have no right to ask for blessing as a country when the drug culture, filthy movies and divorce and remarriage are more rampant than ever. It doesn't matter how many good things are president appears to be, if the people he serves are selfish and greedy anything he does will have little effect.
Babies are still dying as people continue to be angry every day when they are told what they are doing is wrong and that they need Christ.
NO, America is not getting better, spiritually and emotionally it is declining, we are getting worse every single day.
I don't hate Trump, I have prayed for his salvation, but I do not hold him in high regard, I do not say he is a Christian. He is just a man who has been appointed by God to do this job right now. If I were in his presence I would treat him with respect because of his position.
My focus is the condition of these end times and the fact that America is going down for the count. Putting up a wall, or a better economy is not going to save a spiritually bankrupt people.
The heart of the people is getting worse, more prideful, more greedy and more deceived. The church is in terrible deception and the people don't even realize it.
When we attempt to explain what the real Church of born again believers looks like, we are met with irritation and resistance. The apostasy is here in force and there is no turning back now.
Adult children are disrespectful to their parents and think they have a good reason, clearly in violation of the Scriptures that tell children to honor their parents. The parent that is disrespected the worst is the one who places boundaries and speaks boldly about truth. Those parents who say nothing, do nothing and pretend to be nothing are loved by their rebellious children.
Daring to be bold in a time of rebellion will bring difficulties, but it will also bring peace in our hearts as we seek to please the only One who really matters, that is Jesus Christ.
Keep on looking up saints, it won't be long now. We cannot allow the rebellious hearts of others dictate our course.
Those who place their trust in a country or a leader will not be able to focus on Christ.
Jeremiah 23:15-17 "…15 Therefore, this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets: “I will feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.”
16 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. 17 They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD says that you will have peace,’ and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’"
America is Declining Spitually
Trump became president by the will of God, but not to save America. God wanted us to see just how clever the anti-christ deception will be.
So what if we got a wall, so what if the economy is doing better, every sin remains growing, homosexuality, abortion and greed are still dominant, while respect for elders is declining every day.
The spiritual state of this nation gets worse all the time as the United States shouts "peace and prosperity", it continues down the path to destruction.
The nation is not being saved spiritually, these other things we think we like and need are nothing compared to the carnage emotionally and spiritually.
Suicide is up dramatically in the past few years. Teens are killing themselves, something we didn't see in my generation. This is a result of decaying families and rampant selfishness.
2 Timothy 3 and 4 are here right now!
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"1 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 4:2-4
"…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
So what if we got a wall, so what if the economy is doing better, every sin remains growing, homosexuality, abortion and greed are still dominant, while respect for elders is declining every day.
The spiritual state of this nation gets worse all the time as the United States shouts "peace and prosperity", it continues down the path to destruction.
The nation is not being saved spiritually, these other things we think we like and need are nothing compared to the carnage emotionally and spiritually.
Suicide is up dramatically in the past few years. Teens are killing themselves, something we didn't see in my generation. This is a result of decaying families and rampant selfishness.
2 Timothy 3 and 4 are here right now!
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"1 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 4:2-4
"…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
He Goes Through With Us
God does not always bail us out of our troubles, but He does go through with us.
Hebrews 13:5
"5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”
Hebrews 13:5
"5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”
The True Face of Narcissism, the Liberal Left
This is the face of the narcissistic left!!! They are vitriolic and vicious, just because someone doesn't think like they do or run with the crowds they run with. Notice that these childish liberals are acting like gang members from the streets. Mental and emotional infants as they continue their crusade to eliminate anyone who is a threat to their own agendas. Some of us can already relate to this, having been raised in narcissistic families.
Liberals the Epitome of Disrespect
When a narcissist says they don't respect you believe them and remove yourself permanently. Friendships or even acquaintances cannot continue without respect.
There are many narcissists who think it is disrespectful to disagree, because of this mentality they choose to disrespect anyone who will not bow to their way of thinking.
Our political system is rampant with this attitude that we have no rights if we do not think like the liberal elite.
Hypocrisy at its best! You must respect me but I don't have to respect you, reigns in the mind of the hypocrite.
There are many narcissists who think it is disrespectful to disagree, because of this mentality they choose to disrespect anyone who will not bow to their way of thinking.
Our political system is rampant with this attitude that we have no rights if we do not think like the liberal elite.
Hypocrisy at its best! You must respect me but I don't have to respect you, reigns in the mind of the hypocrite.
Remove the Jealous People
Do not waste your time on jealous people who have no interest in sharing life with you. There are plenty of others around us who need and appreciate us and whom we appreciate, we just have to pray that the Lord show us who.
A shared life is one in which two people care about the things of the other. When someone shows interest they are a friend, when they act indifferent and bored about our life and will not share theirs with us, then that is the time to move on to others who are interested.
Don't be unhappy when someone lacks interest, let them go and be there for someone else.
Proverbs 18:24 "24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother."
Don't be worried if you have no friends or only one friend, Christ is always with us, our best friend. One friend is all you need!
I have watched those who have many friends, they never become close to any of them. They have many because their is shallowness to their soul. One can know a lot of things and do a lot of things and still be lacking in spiritual and emotional depth.
There is a very foolish saying that the world thinks is right that is; "one can tell the quality of ones life by how many friends they have." Sadly there are those who think this is true. Some of the most horrible people have many friends.
If we are walking with Christ we will lose friends, often isolated from family who have contempt for us and even be gossiped about because we do not dance to everyone else's drummer.
James 1:2-8
Profiting from Trials
"2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
The focus of those who walk with Christ is Him, not how popular one can become in this world.
Luke 6:25-26 "25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers treated the false prophets in the same way."
A shared life is one in which two people care about the things of the other. When someone shows interest they are a friend, when they act indifferent and bored about our life and will not share theirs with us, then that is the time to move on to others who are interested.
Don't be unhappy when someone lacks interest, let them go and be there for someone else.
Proverbs 18:24 "24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother."
Don't be worried if you have no friends or only one friend, Christ is always with us, our best friend. One friend is all you need!
I have watched those who have many friends, they never become close to any of them. They have many because their is shallowness to their soul. One can know a lot of things and do a lot of things and still be lacking in spiritual and emotional depth.
There is a very foolish saying that the world thinks is right that is; "one can tell the quality of ones life by how many friends they have." Sadly there are those who think this is true. Some of the most horrible people have many friends.
If we are walking with Christ we will lose friends, often isolated from family who have contempt for us and even be gossiped about because we do not dance to everyone else's drummer.
James 1:2-8
Profiting from Trials
"2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
The focus of those who walk with Christ is Him, not how popular one can become in this world.
Luke 6:25-26 "25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers treated the false prophets in the same way."
Enablers are Selfish
Those who are enablers are selfish, they care more about remaining friends with the narcissist than what the narcissist is doing to the targets.
Why do they not defend the target, instead of the narcissist. They must be like the narcissist, or they wouldn't care if the narcissist likes them. The flying monkey, the enabler will defend the one they identify with and with whom they want to remain friends.
Have you ever been confused when observing people in the room who see what the bully does but say and do nothing? The very least the observer can do is comfort the victim, even privately, but they do not.
If everyone in the room who saw the abusive comments and accusations would chastise the abuser, then the abuser would learn to stop it. But since everyone in the room remains silent, the abuser is empowered to not only continue but become worse.
Silence in the face of wrong is the same as endorsement of it.
1 Peter 2:15-16 "15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God."
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
So many people quote this sentence from Edmund Burke when speaking about politics, but will not stand up for truth and righteousness in their own family units. I guess its just easier to speak to the choir about politics than it is to risk the anger and contempt of family members.
Just saying!!!!
Why do they not defend the target, instead of the narcissist. They must be like the narcissist, or they wouldn't care if the narcissist likes them. The flying monkey, the enabler will defend the one they identify with and with whom they want to remain friends.
Have you ever been confused when observing people in the room who see what the bully does but say and do nothing? The very least the observer can do is comfort the victim, even privately, but they do not.
If everyone in the room who saw the abusive comments and accusations would chastise the abuser, then the abuser would learn to stop it. But since everyone in the room remains silent, the abuser is empowered to not only continue but become worse.
Silence in the face of wrong is the same as endorsement of it.
1 Peter 2:15-16 "15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God."
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
So many people quote this sentence from Edmund Burke when speaking about politics, but will not stand up for truth and righteousness in their own family units. I guess its just easier to speak to the choir about politics than it is to risk the anger and contempt of family members.
Just saying!!!!
Yes He Changed Me!
Every born again believer is able to say, "I am not what I used to be." Anyone who cannot say that, those who believe they have not changed in all their years, cannot be born again.
No one who is born again remains the same, they are growing and changing all the time as Christ in them is cleansing them daily.
Hallelujah!!!
No one who is born again remains the same, they are growing and changing all the time as Christ in them is cleansing them daily.
Hallelujah!!!
Arguing to Win is Sin
"Putting up with abuse to avoid more abuse is irrational" (taken from an internet counselor), the abuse is going to happen anyway so might as well as minimize the abuse by removing yourself and refusing to engage with contentious people.
Over time the more we control our emotions around contentious people the less we will have to deal with in them. Those who get no reaction must give up, they cannot argue with themselves.
This concept is Biblical, God tells us to remove ourselves from those who refuse to reason and those who love to fight.
Proverbs 26:20-21 "20 Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases. 21 Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife."
I have heard young people boast to me that they love a good argument. Sadly their idea of argument is nothing more than "one up man-ship" to gain control over others emotions. They have no desire to learn truth, to discuss truth or to discover another person's perspective, their only aim is to appear superior and dominate.
If you are over 50, I am quite sure you have encountered these people. When they are in the room there is no rest for anyone, what was good turns ugly as soon as these people open their mouths.
Proverbs 18:2
"A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion."
With the onset of the self esteem teaching we see a growing mentality of contentiousness, so much so it seems almost normal. At one time this sort of person was the strange and selfish fringe element of our culture. But now it is mainstream and common.
Proverbs 29:11
"A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back."
Gracious people listen to discover the message and respond in truth. Winning a conversation is not important to the gracious person, only learning about others and enhancing truth is what is important.
Proverbs 18:6
"A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating."
Proverbs 29:9
"If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet."
The fool mocks, demeans and antagonizes others to elevate himself. He is so foolish that he thinks to be a superior person he must devalue others. Knowing truth is not nearly as important to the fool as "appearing" to know the truth. Appearances are far more important to the fool than truth or love.
The fool only loves those who elevate them, but it is not real love, it is a friendliness that only lasts as long as their friend praises and worships them. This person is easily discerned, all one has to do is mildly disagree with them and the rage emerges like a storm out of no where.
We know how angry a superior minded person can get by watching the tactics of the devil. He hated that he could not be above God, so he rages every day against those who love God. Mocking, intimidating, manipulating and demeaning them any way he can to cause frustration and division.
This description of the devil is the same description of the foolish narcissist. Why? Because the foolish narcissist is controlled by the devil through his thoughts. The devil works on the minds of those who want to be superior. The devil appeals to the natural pride in a man, filling his head with all kinds of self aggrandizing thoughts while creating anger against those who will not worship him.
Ephesians 6:12-13 "12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.…"
If you are a narcissist confess it to God and asked to be cleansed of it to be back in a right relationships with Him.
If you are the target of narcissists, confess the propensity to fight back with the narcissist as well as making them gods in your life every time you allowed them to manipulate you. When we allow these people to control our emotions we have made them gods in our lives. Get rid of the idols in our minds, choose to think with the mind of Christ and these self appointed gods will have no affect on our responses or our walk with Christ.
When we know what the narcissist is doing, then we become responsible to avoid feeding the beast. Do not fight with these disordered characters, do not validate their foolishness by responding to them. The more we respond, the more they are empowered to continue. We become enablers when we give them power through our responses.
Notice one things about these people, they never say, "you have a good point." They never say, "I am sorry I offended you", and they never admit when they were wrong, ever!!!!
Galatians 1:10 "10 Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Lastly, we must never allow the enablers of the narcissist to intimidate us into remaining in the room with the narcissist. There will be those who judge us as mean for not remaining friends with abusers. Those who are the enablers, the ones who validate the narcissist, must also be removed from our lives. They will pressure us to do what is against God to remain friends with wicked people.
Exodus 20:3-11
"3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me." God clearly says that we are not to hold any man in so regard that we follow that man instead of God's direction.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 tells us to remove ourselves from evil men, He even tells us just how bad they will become. Obey God not man.
Over time the more we control our emotions around contentious people the less we will have to deal with in them. Those who get no reaction must give up, they cannot argue with themselves.
This concept is Biblical, God tells us to remove ourselves from those who refuse to reason and those who love to fight.
Proverbs 26:20-21 "20 Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases. 21 Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife."
I have heard young people boast to me that they love a good argument. Sadly their idea of argument is nothing more than "one up man-ship" to gain control over others emotions. They have no desire to learn truth, to discuss truth or to discover another person's perspective, their only aim is to appear superior and dominate.
If you are over 50, I am quite sure you have encountered these people. When they are in the room there is no rest for anyone, what was good turns ugly as soon as these people open their mouths.
Proverbs 18:2
"A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion."
With the onset of the self esteem teaching we see a growing mentality of contentiousness, so much so it seems almost normal. At one time this sort of person was the strange and selfish fringe element of our culture. But now it is mainstream and common.
Proverbs 29:11
"A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back."
Gracious people listen to discover the message and respond in truth. Winning a conversation is not important to the gracious person, only learning about others and enhancing truth is what is important.
Proverbs 18:6
"A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating."
Proverbs 29:9
"If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet."
The fool mocks, demeans and antagonizes others to elevate himself. He is so foolish that he thinks to be a superior person he must devalue others. Knowing truth is not nearly as important to the fool as "appearing" to know the truth. Appearances are far more important to the fool than truth or love.
The fool only loves those who elevate them, but it is not real love, it is a friendliness that only lasts as long as their friend praises and worships them. This person is easily discerned, all one has to do is mildly disagree with them and the rage emerges like a storm out of no where.
We know how angry a superior minded person can get by watching the tactics of the devil. He hated that he could not be above God, so he rages every day against those who love God. Mocking, intimidating, manipulating and demeaning them any way he can to cause frustration and division.
This description of the devil is the same description of the foolish narcissist. Why? Because the foolish narcissist is controlled by the devil through his thoughts. The devil works on the minds of those who want to be superior. The devil appeals to the natural pride in a man, filling his head with all kinds of self aggrandizing thoughts while creating anger against those who will not worship him.
Ephesians 6:12-13 "12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.…"
If you are a narcissist confess it to God and asked to be cleansed of it to be back in a right relationships with Him.
If you are the target of narcissists, confess the propensity to fight back with the narcissist as well as making them gods in your life every time you allowed them to manipulate you. When we allow these people to control our emotions we have made them gods in our lives. Get rid of the idols in our minds, choose to think with the mind of Christ and these self appointed gods will have no affect on our responses or our walk with Christ.
When we know what the narcissist is doing, then we become responsible to avoid feeding the beast. Do not fight with these disordered characters, do not validate their foolishness by responding to them. The more we respond, the more they are empowered to continue. We become enablers when we give them power through our responses.
Notice one things about these people, they never say, "you have a good point." They never say, "I am sorry I offended you", and they never admit when they were wrong, ever!!!!
Galatians 1:10 "10 Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Lastly, we must never allow the enablers of the narcissist to intimidate us into remaining in the room with the narcissist. There will be those who judge us as mean for not remaining friends with abusers. Those who are the enablers, the ones who validate the narcissist, must also be removed from our lives. They will pressure us to do what is against God to remain friends with wicked people.
Exodus 20:3-11
"3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me." God clearly says that we are not to hold any man in so regard that we follow that man instead of God's direction.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 tells us to remove ourselves from evil men, He even tells us just how bad they will become. Obey God not man.
Monday, June 25, 2018
Feelings are not Facts
I have seen a phenomena in Pentecostal churches that I have visited. The propensity to elevate feelings above Christ. Because of this the people who attended were willing to throw the principles of the Bible under the bus to follow their feelings.
Often one sentence from scripture was removed and place with other passages out of context to construct a desired belief. We see this in other churches too, but the most dramatic I have seen has been in the Pentecostal groups. Since feelings are facts to those who must have their spiritual high, they depend on excitement and euphoria to continue a sense of spirituality. Its fleshly and demonically inspired.
When they were told what they did or said was not Biblical they would tell me that the Holy Spirit told them. When I asserted that the Holy Spirit does not violate His own word and that who they heard was not the Holy Spirit, then they would become angered and fight to defend their disobedience.
I have had Pentecostals twist the Bible to such a degree that it had no resemblance to the meanings God intended. "Out of context" teachings are common in these gatherings, as long as everyone "feels" good about them.
I have even attended Pentecostal women's Bible studies in which the leader would ask the attendees to read a Scripture and then asked "what does that passage mean to you."
When someone asks a woman in the group their interpretation of a Scripture, they are giving the authority of interpretation over to that person instead of God. This makes the Bible a subjective book without accuracy and without authority.
1 Peter 1:20-21 " 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever brought about through human initiative, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.…"
Since extra Biblical doctrine is added to enhance the emotional experience, there is a hostility that arises when anyone attempts to show the errors that emerge from extracting Scripture from its context.
In one group I attended the leader, who was a woman, became gleeful and excited to tell the group there were angels walking around their chairs. I sat completely unemotional while the room erupted in claps and shouts of amen. I never figured out why that woman told us that, since angels are all around us all the time, we just can't see them. The only reason I could figure that she would tell everyone is that she was elevating herself as one who had something special to see things the others could not see.
Of course she couldn't prove they were there, nor would it matter, we have no need to see angels.
This is the kind of silliness we see happening regularly in the Pentecostal gatherings, they must have an experience they can see or someone who saw it for them, to feel close to God. One can feel close to God while being very far away. Emotions lead us down a deceptive path that creates euphoria but is not real.
2 Corinthians 5:7
"7 For we walk by faith, not by sight."
We see this same mentality in the Catholic church, there must be miracles seen and rituals performed to have a sense of closeness. Sadly this form of closeness does not bring us close to Christ, it detracts from our walk of faith. Faith being the substance of things not seen.
The more we must see with our eyes and do with our hands, the less faith we exhibit.
2 Corinthians 5:16-19 "16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation."
Our walk with Christ does not hang on events and feelings, it hangs on faith in Him, a daily walk continually consulting Him while praising Him above all experiences, even when life does not give us what we would like, we still praise Him.
Often one sentence from scripture was removed and place with other passages out of context to construct a desired belief. We see this in other churches too, but the most dramatic I have seen has been in the Pentecostal groups. Since feelings are facts to those who must have their spiritual high, they depend on excitement and euphoria to continue a sense of spirituality. Its fleshly and demonically inspired.
When they were told what they did or said was not Biblical they would tell me that the Holy Spirit told them. When I asserted that the Holy Spirit does not violate His own word and that who they heard was not the Holy Spirit, then they would become angered and fight to defend their disobedience.
I have had Pentecostals twist the Bible to such a degree that it had no resemblance to the meanings God intended. "Out of context" teachings are common in these gatherings, as long as everyone "feels" good about them.
I have even attended Pentecostal women's Bible studies in which the leader would ask the attendees to read a Scripture and then asked "what does that passage mean to you."
When someone asks a woman in the group their interpretation of a Scripture, they are giving the authority of interpretation over to that person instead of God. This makes the Bible a subjective book without accuracy and without authority.
1 Peter 1:20-21 " 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever brought about through human initiative, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.…"
Since extra Biblical doctrine is added to enhance the emotional experience, there is a hostility that arises when anyone attempts to show the errors that emerge from extracting Scripture from its context.
In one group I attended the leader, who was a woman, became gleeful and excited to tell the group there were angels walking around their chairs. I sat completely unemotional while the room erupted in claps and shouts of amen. I never figured out why that woman told us that, since angels are all around us all the time, we just can't see them. The only reason I could figure that she would tell everyone is that she was elevating herself as one who had something special to see things the others could not see.
Of course she couldn't prove they were there, nor would it matter, we have no need to see angels.
This is the kind of silliness we see happening regularly in the Pentecostal gatherings, they must have an experience they can see or someone who saw it for them, to feel close to God. One can feel close to God while being very far away. Emotions lead us down a deceptive path that creates euphoria but is not real.
2 Corinthians 5:7
"7 For we walk by faith, not by sight."
We see this same mentality in the Catholic church, there must be miracles seen and rituals performed to have a sense of closeness. Sadly this form of closeness does not bring us close to Christ, it detracts from our walk of faith. Faith being the substance of things not seen.
The more we must see with our eyes and do with our hands, the less faith we exhibit.
2 Corinthians 5:16-19 "16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation."
Our walk with Christ does not hang on events and feelings, it hangs on faith in Him, a daily walk continually consulting Him while praising Him above all experiences, even when life does not give us what we would like, we still praise Him.
An Authentic Prophet is not Wrong
Why do people continue to follow false prophets even when they have been proven to be false?
Ellen G. White had numerous false prophesies, here are some of them;
1. She said that "Old Jerusalem never would be built up",
2. She prophesied that she would be alive during the rapture.
3. She prophesied that Christ would return before slavery was abolished.
4. She said that Adventists living in 1856 would see the rapture.
All of these prophesies were wrong, and yet those who read her writings and follow her teachings still hang onto her as a church prophetess.
Deuteronomy 18:21-22 "…21 You may ask in your heart, “How can we recognize a message that the LORD has not spoken?” 22 When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the message does not come to pass or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him."
The Adventist church asserts this: "The Gift of Prophecy: One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White.
When the works of Ellen G. White are used more than the Bible in any gathering, we can assume that Ellen G. White takes priority over Christ and His Word.
She was a false prophet and yet this organization continues to elevate her to prophet status, directly against the teachings of the Bible.
Ellen G. White had numerous false prophesies, here are some of them;
1. She said that "Old Jerusalem never would be built up",
2. She prophesied that she would be alive during the rapture.
3. She prophesied that Christ would return before slavery was abolished.
4. She said that Adventists living in 1856 would see the rapture.
All of these prophesies were wrong, and yet those who read her writings and follow her teachings still hang onto her as a church prophetess.
Deuteronomy 18:21-22 "…21 You may ask in your heart, “How can we recognize a message that the LORD has not spoken?” 22 When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the message does not come to pass or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him."
The Adventist church asserts this: "The Gift of Prophecy: One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White.
When the works of Ellen G. White are used more than the Bible in any gathering, we can assume that Ellen G. White takes priority over Christ and His Word.
She was a false prophet and yet this organization continues to elevate her to prophet status, directly against the teachings of the Bible.
The Devil Enjoys Destroying God's People
The WAY one thinks will determine their life path. Those who are full of self will always interpret things in terms of the effect on them. Others are not very important to them unless those others can enhance their own life in some way.
It comes down to the WAY the narcissist processes information. They really don't have control over their own mind, the devil is placing thoughts and emotions that are not true, just as he did in the garden with Eve.
He brought thinking to Eve that made her begin to ponder a WAY that was different from what she would have thought before she heard the lies. It was her choice to believe the lies, but the devil planted the seeds of doubt toward God that led her down a path of further deception.
Why did Even not chastise the devil and refuse to believe him because of the knowledge she had of God? That's a very good question isn't it?!
Eve didn't chastise the devil nor did she reject what he was saying because she sort of liked the idea that she could be like God. She embraced the lies to elevate self.
The devil lied against God, used flattery toward Eve and used manipulation to entice, appealing to pride in Eve.
Genesis 3:4-6 "…4“ You will not surely die,” the serpent told her. 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, and he ate it.…"
This is what we notice in gossip, the person gossiping loves to push others down in the eyes of the hearer to elevate themselves. The devil has only one foundational tactic, that is to diminish his target, deceiving them to make them believe others are beneath them, in order to raise themselves up.
Proverbs 26:24-28
"24 He who hates disguises it with his lips,
But he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred covers itself with guile,
His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
27 He who digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
And a flattering mouth works ruin."
This is exactly what the devil did in heaven when he was thrown out and what he did with Eve in the garden to diminish God in her eyes. If he could get the other demons and Eve to see God as the "bad one", then he could get his followers to worship him while hating God.
This principle works well for the devil in human relationships too. When we know that the devil is behind all our relationship problems as well as everything else in the world, we can be at ease when we recognize his strategies.
Keep in mind the devil was not just selfish he was destructive, his goal was to destroy anyone in his path, anyone who might not worship him and to take as many people and devils to hell with him as he can.
The devil has one mission, that is to ruin the witness of believes and to cause unbelievers to hate Christians.These maneuvers are an attack against God. He uses his minions to place thoughts in the minds of people to cause reactions against one another and even toward God.
We do not have to be pawns in the devil's schemes, we can rise above it to be Christlike, no matter who or what comes against us.
Ephesians 6:10-12 "10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Remember that we are living in the last days, the days of increasing evil, we must recognize it for what it is, call it out and then run from those who enjoy and defend their sinfulness.
It comes down to the WAY the narcissist processes information. They really don't have control over their own mind, the devil is placing thoughts and emotions that are not true, just as he did in the garden with Eve.
He brought thinking to Eve that made her begin to ponder a WAY that was different from what she would have thought before she heard the lies. It was her choice to believe the lies, but the devil planted the seeds of doubt toward God that led her down a path of further deception.
Why did Even not chastise the devil and refuse to believe him because of the knowledge she had of God? That's a very good question isn't it?!
Eve didn't chastise the devil nor did she reject what he was saying because she sort of liked the idea that she could be like God. She embraced the lies to elevate self.
The devil lied against God, used flattery toward Eve and used manipulation to entice, appealing to pride in Eve.
Genesis 3:4-6 "…4“ You will not surely die,” the serpent told her. 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, and he ate it.…"
This is what we notice in gossip, the person gossiping loves to push others down in the eyes of the hearer to elevate themselves. The devil has only one foundational tactic, that is to diminish his target, deceiving them to make them believe others are beneath them, in order to raise themselves up.
Proverbs 26:24-28
"24 He who hates disguises it with his lips,
But he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred covers itself with guile,
His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
27 He who digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
And a flattering mouth works ruin."
This is exactly what the devil did in heaven when he was thrown out and what he did with Eve in the garden to diminish God in her eyes. If he could get the other demons and Eve to see God as the "bad one", then he could get his followers to worship him while hating God.
This principle works well for the devil in human relationships too. When we know that the devil is behind all our relationship problems as well as everything else in the world, we can be at ease when we recognize his strategies.
Keep in mind the devil was not just selfish he was destructive, his goal was to destroy anyone in his path, anyone who might not worship him and to take as many people and devils to hell with him as he can.
The devil has one mission, that is to ruin the witness of believes and to cause unbelievers to hate Christians.These maneuvers are an attack against God. He uses his minions to place thoughts in the minds of people to cause reactions against one another and even toward God.
We do not have to be pawns in the devil's schemes, we can rise above it to be Christlike, no matter who or what comes against us.
Ephesians 6:10-12 "10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Remember that we are living in the last days, the days of increasing evil, we must recognize it for what it is, call it out and then run from those who enjoy and defend their sinfulness.
Self Esteem will Destroy You and Others
Thinking highly of oneself is the foundation for a downfall.
Ecclesiastes 7:16
"Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?"
Ecclesiastes 7:16
"Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?"
Saturday, June 23, 2018
Psalm 22
Psalm 22
"A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise.
For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David.
22 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.
2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest.
3 Yet You are holy,
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
4 In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them.
5 To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not disappointed."
"6 But I am a worm and not a man,
A reproach of men and despised by the people.
7 All who see me sneer at me;
They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,
8 “Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”
"9 Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;
You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.
10 Upon You I was cast from birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb."
"11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near;
For there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
13 They open wide their mouth at me,
As a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It is melted within [l]me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;
And You lay me in the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;
18 They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots."
"19 But You, O Lord, be not far off;
O You my help, hasten to my assistance.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
My only life from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth;
From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me."
"22 I will tell of Your name to my brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him;
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.
24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from him;
But when he cried to Him for help, He heard."
"25 From You comes my praise in the great assembly;
I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.
26 The afflicted will eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.
Let your heart live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations will worship before You.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s
And He rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,
All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.
30 Posterity will serve Him;
It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.
31 They will come and will declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born, that He has performed it."
"A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise.
For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David.
22 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.
2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest.
3 Yet You are holy,
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
4 In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them.
5 To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not disappointed."
"6 But I am a worm and not a man,
A reproach of men and despised by the people.
7 All who see me sneer at me;
They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,
8 “Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”
"9 Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;
You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.
10 Upon You I was cast from birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb."
"11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near;
For there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
13 They open wide their mouth at me,
As a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It is melted within [l]me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;
And You lay me in the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;
18 They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots."
"19 But You, O Lord, be not far off;
O You my help, hasten to my assistance.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
My only life from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth;
From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me."
"22 I will tell of Your name to my brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him;
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.
24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from him;
But when he cried to Him for help, He heard."
"25 From You comes my praise in the great assembly;
I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.
26 The afflicted will eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.
Let your heart live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations will worship before You.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s
And He rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,
All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.
30 Posterity will serve Him;
It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.
31 They will come and will declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born, that He has performed it."
Wounded for our Transgressions
Isaiah 53:5
"5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed."
In the Hebrew the word "stripes" is not plural as it is in these verses, it was singular, meaning by the blow from the Father, the separation from His Father as the sin of the world was laid upon Christ on the cross.
The blow from the Father, the separation from the Father was far worse for Christ than any physical misery. Yes the physical brutality was the means by which Christ died and rose again, but it was not the means through which are sin are forgiven, nor was it the means through which we are physically healed. The sins of the world were laid upon Christ on the cross, not the physical problems.
We were not healed from physical illness, we were healed from our sinful nature, but only if we trust in Christ and His payment for our sin.
God does heal often, but other times He leaves us in our infirmities to make us stronger. Just as the workout coach pushes us harder until the muscles break down. When the muscles repair themselves from the strain, they become stronger than they were before.
Difficulties, illnesses and infirmities cause us to lean on the Lord more, as well as making us see the power in the faith in Christ as we go through tough things.
James 1:2-3
"2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance."
1 John 2:1-3 "1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours alone, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments."
There are many people who are being judged as lacking faith because they have physical infirmities. I suggest to you, based on Scripture, that perhaps often the ones with the greater faith are those who must trust Christ through life long infirmities. Do not be so proud as to think you have greater faith because you are not enduring illness.
Hebrews 12:7-9 "…7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?…"
"5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed."
In the Hebrew the word "stripes" is not plural as it is in these verses, it was singular, meaning by the blow from the Father, the separation from His Father as the sin of the world was laid upon Christ on the cross.
The blow from the Father, the separation from the Father was far worse for Christ than any physical misery. Yes the physical brutality was the means by which Christ died and rose again, but it was not the means through which are sin are forgiven, nor was it the means through which we are physically healed. The sins of the world were laid upon Christ on the cross, not the physical problems.
We were not healed from physical illness, we were healed from our sinful nature, but only if we trust in Christ and His payment for our sin.
God does heal often, but other times He leaves us in our infirmities to make us stronger. Just as the workout coach pushes us harder until the muscles break down. When the muscles repair themselves from the strain, they become stronger than they were before.
Difficulties, illnesses and infirmities cause us to lean on the Lord more, as well as making us see the power in the faith in Christ as we go through tough things.
James 1:2-3
"2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance."
1 John 2:1-3 "1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours alone, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments."
There are many people who are being judged as lacking faith because they have physical infirmities. I suggest to you, based on Scripture, that perhaps often the ones with the greater faith are those who must trust Christ through life long infirmities. Do not be so proud as to think you have greater faith because you are not enduring illness.
Hebrews 12:7-9 "…7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?…"
Friday, June 22, 2018
They are Christians but they Really don't Believe Him
Many people do not take God seriously because he is just another friendly ferry story like the Easter bunny and Santa Clause. We have so much fantasy in this world today, the science fiction movies, the alien abduction hoax and others, that the cultural Christians think of God as just another one of those "fun to think about fantasies."
Alan Brayshaw
" Jesus is Coming Soon and Most are not Ready. "They just don't believe it."
Alan Brayshaw
" Jesus is Coming Soon and Most are not Ready. "They just don't believe it."
Bio Polar Word Salad
Bio-polar issues are a very big part of the end times, the irrational way in which many arrogant people communicate is shocking.
The continual switching back and forth from friendly to hateful is a sign, not of true emotions but rather of deliberate manipulation to intimidate.
I believe much of the word salad used by the narcissist to win arguments has become more common. They string a lot of words together that have no meaning and when that doesn't unnerve their target they rage to intimidate.
Be sure that in these last days we will see much more of this! Just take a look at the childish actions of the liberals when they are told what is right and wrong, they become like toddlers having a tantrum.
Now we are not only seeing this in liberals but even in conservatives and worse yet in the church.
Correction is the new hate speech in the minds of those who are madly in love with themselves. Anyone daring to correct anything they say and do will be met with intense hatred and revenge.
Proverbs 12:15-17 "…15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel. 16 A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. 17 He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit.…"
Believers hate revenge, they leave their frustration with injustice to God while they walk away from those who intimidate and manipulate. God is all powerful and He takes revenge for us.
Hebrews 10:30 "30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
Romans 12:19
"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
The continual switching back and forth from friendly to hateful is a sign, not of true emotions but rather of deliberate manipulation to intimidate.
I believe much of the word salad used by the narcissist to win arguments has become more common. They string a lot of words together that have no meaning and when that doesn't unnerve their target they rage to intimidate.
Be sure that in these last days we will see much more of this! Just take a look at the childish actions of the liberals when they are told what is right and wrong, they become like toddlers having a tantrum.
Now we are not only seeing this in liberals but even in conservatives and worse yet in the church.
Correction is the new hate speech in the minds of those who are madly in love with themselves. Anyone daring to correct anything they say and do will be met with intense hatred and revenge.
Proverbs 12:15-17 "…15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel. 16 A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. 17 He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit.…"
Believers hate revenge, they leave their frustration with injustice to God while they walk away from those who intimidate and manipulate. God is all powerful and He takes revenge for us.
Hebrews 10:30 "30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
Romans 12:19
"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Call for Repentance
The people running for office need to call for repentance and confession of sin. God will not hear the prayers of a nation that does not respect or honor Him. He will not heal the land of a people who hang tightly to their sin while claiming to be Christians.
Matthew 15:8 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”…"
Jeremiah 14:10-12 "…10 Thus says the LORD to this people, "Even so they have loved to wander; they have not kept their feet in check. Therefore the LORD does not accept them; now He will remember their iniquity and call their sins to account." 11 So the LORD said to me, "Do not pray for the welfare of this people. 12 "When they fast, I am not going to listen to their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I am not going to accept them. Rather I am going to make an end of them by the sword, famine and pestilence."…
There is no indication whatever that this nation is getting ready to repent, just the opposite. The nation continues hard after sin, increasing in wickedness every day. Babies are still being murdered in the womb, pornography is rampant, children are in rebellion, arrogance abounds as though self is the god we worship.
No, there is no movement toward repentance and will not be unless a terrible disaster occurs to wake up a sleeping people. Even then the hearts of the people have become so hardened, that admitting sin and confessing it is unthinkable to most.
The hearts of this country have turned to stone, it is evidenced in the manifestation of 2 Timothy 3:1-5 as God describes the end of the end of the church age.
Looking to go home soon!!!! Who wants to come? The only way to become born again is to trust Christ Jesus, confess sinfulness and a desire to be changed into a new creation by Him. He will then come to live in you, cleanse you until He comes for you. No one can trust in any good work, no matter how good or how many, nothing of ourselves will be able to get us into heaven.
Ephesians 2:8-9
"8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Matthew 15:8 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”…"
Jeremiah 14:10-12 "…10 Thus says the LORD to this people, "Even so they have loved to wander; they have not kept their feet in check. Therefore the LORD does not accept them; now He will remember their iniquity and call their sins to account." 11 So the LORD said to me, "Do not pray for the welfare of this people. 12 "When they fast, I am not going to listen to their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I am not going to accept them. Rather I am going to make an end of them by the sword, famine and pestilence."…
There is no indication whatever that this nation is getting ready to repent, just the opposite. The nation continues hard after sin, increasing in wickedness every day. Babies are still being murdered in the womb, pornography is rampant, children are in rebellion, arrogance abounds as though self is the god we worship.
No, there is no movement toward repentance and will not be unless a terrible disaster occurs to wake up a sleeping people. Even then the hearts of the people have become so hardened, that admitting sin and confessing it is unthinkable to most.
The hearts of this country have turned to stone, it is evidenced in the manifestation of 2 Timothy 3:1-5 as God describes the end of the end of the church age.
Looking to go home soon!!!! Who wants to come? The only way to become born again is to trust Christ Jesus, confess sinfulness and a desire to be changed into a new creation by Him. He will then come to live in you, cleanse you until He comes for you. No one can trust in any good work, no matter how good or how many, nothing of ourselves will be able to get us into heaven.
Ephesians 2:8-9
"8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Adding to God's Word is Self Righteousness!
Those who add their own rules or interpret God's commandments to suite their desired belief system are in disobedience to God.
Romans 10: 3 & 4 "For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.. ."
Romans 10: 3 & 4 "For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.. ."
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Are You Deceivable?
"When someone is living in unrighteousness, they are deceivable." Earthen Vessel
The reason we are seeing so many people in the church are acting irrationally and deceived by false doctrine and moving toward cultic belief is because they are proud in their hearts.
They make up their own doctrine based on what they like or what fits with the culture in order to fit in with the group they are with.
When we follow Christ we will not fit in anywhere it seems. We don't fit into most gatherings whether it be in the world or the church. We do not fit into most church gatherings because the world has taken over the church.
Unrighteousness need not be big bad sins everyone can see, it might be as subtle as seeming to be righteous on the outside while at the same time deeply prideful about how good one thinks they are, special, superior to others.
Pride was what made the devil used to entice Eve in the garden. He appealed to her desire to be special and superior. She was not satisfied with living in a perfect world, she wanted to be like god.
The reason we are seeing so many people in the church are acting irrationally and deceived by false doctrine and moving toward cultic belief is because they are proud in their hearts.
They make up their own doctrine based on what they like or what fits with the culture in order to fit in with the group they are with.
When we follow Christ we will not fit in anywhere it seems. We don't fit into most gatherings whether it be in the world or the church. We do not fit into most church gatherings because the world has taken over the church.
Unrighteousness need not be big bad sins everyone can see, it might be as subtle as seeming to be righteous on the outside while at the same time deeply prideful about how good one thinks they are, special, superior to others.
Pride was what made the devil used to entice Eve in the garden. He appealed to her desire to be special and superior. She was not satisfied with living in a perfect world, she wanted to be like god.
The Two Faced Person
A "Janus" faced person is one who is two faced, God spoke of them in the Word.
James 1:7-8
"…7 That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
Those who are love bombing you one minute and raging at you the next, is very likely using manipulation to intimidate you into feeling inferior to them.
Sadly this works for those who are sympathetic people, those who cannot stand the thought of hurting others. It is often effective for the narcissist to accuse a sensitive kind hearted person of being mean to control their emotions.
If the narcissist can control the emotions of their target, they can have a perpetual source of supply. Their supply is the one who allows them to dominate them as well as the sense of supremacy. More than anything else the narcissist has an unhealthy need to be elevated above their target.
This need to be superior drives the narcissist to evaluating their target as unworthy of encouragement or validation. If the narcissist can have a friend who is easily manipulated to feel inferior, this is supply for the child like narcissist. In short they are the bullies in the family.
Families often have more than one bully, because someone in the family has been allowing the bully to continue their monstrous behavior without challenge or discipline. The more a bully gets away with their actions the worse they become.
2 Timothy 3:12-14 "…12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you learned them."
Our world has become saturated with those who fit the description in 2 Timothy 3. The culture has a whole has coddled the perpetrators of evil while chastising the victims for complaining about the treatment against them.
Isaiah 5:20-21 "20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.…"
One of the hallmarks of this culture is the propensity for people to be "know-it-alls", people who really believe they should be treated like little gods, having all knowledge while raging when someone dares to tell the truth. Any challenge at all are met with intense anger toward the truth teller. There is never an apology for the outburst, the idea of having to admit one may be wrong or apologize is anathema to the self righteous narcissist.
Keep looking up, one day soon we will be going home and this will no longer be a part of our existence. Knowing this should make it easier to move through this time with more understanding and greater resolve to keep on going for the Lord.
Ignore those who would work against us, tell the truth anyway and be willing to take the lumps that come because of it.
Hallelujah!!!
James 1:7-8
"…7 That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
Those who are love bombing you one minute and raging at you the next, is very likely using manipulation to intimidate you into feeling inferior to them.
Sadly this works for those who are sympathetic people, those who cannot stand the thought of hurting others. It is often effective for the narcissist to accuse a sensitive kind hearted person of being mean to control their emotions.
If the narcissist can control the emotions of their target, they can have a perpetual source of supply. Their supply is the one who allows them to dominate them as well as the sense of supremacy. More than anything else the narcissist has an unhealthy need to be elevated above their target.
This need to be superior drives the narcissist to evaluating their target as unworthy of encouragement or validation. If the narcissist can have a friend who is easily manipulated to feel inferior, this is supply for the child like narcissist. In short they are the bullies in the family.
Families often have more than one bully, because someone in the family has been allowing the bully to continue their monstrous behavior without challenge or discipline. The more a bully gets away with their actions the worse they become.
2 Timothy 3:12-14 "…12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you learned them."
Our world has become saturated with those who fit the description in 2 Timothy 3. The culture has a whole has coddled the perpetrators of evil while chastising the victims for complaining about the treatment against them.
Isaiah 5:20-21 "20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.…"
One of the hallmarks of this culture is the propensity for people to be "know-it-alls", people who really believe they should be treated like little gods, having all knowledge while raging when someone dares to tell the truth. Any challenge at all are met with intense anger toward the truth teller. There is never an apology for the outburst, the idea of having to admit one may be wrong or apologize is anathema to the self righteous narcissist.
Keep looking up, one day soon we will be going home and this will no longer be a part of our existence. Knowing this should make it easier to move through this time with more understanding and greater resolve to keep on going for the Lord.
Ignore those who would work against us, tell the truth anyway and be willing to take the lumps that come because of it.
Hallelujah!!!
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