Rodger and I were discussing the role of women in the church. We agree that women are not leaders in the church but played an important role in their Christian relationships.
Women also are important for the helping of the spread of the gospel. Even street preaching can be one of those callings of the woman. Not very many women are called to this but many are called to speak truth boldly in their relationships to both men and women, as well as children.
When my husband and I moved to South Carolina there were two very godly women who influenced us. They demonstrated a fervor for the truth and a life completely enmeshed in Christ.
These two women deeply influenced Rodger, encouraging him in training himself in the Word as well as using that training to preach to the rest of the body.
Mary and Melly-Sue were wonderful influences in our lives and in Rodgers life especially. They both approached him to encourage him in his walk.
It was in South Carolina that we decided to be baptized. There is where we found the Bible to be preached, the Berean attitude that brought us along spiritually, farther than we had ever been before.
Rodger and I came from traditions in which women remained silent about the things of the Lord. They never spoke the name of Jesus Christ, nor did they teach anything from the Bible. Rodger's comment to me during this discussion was; "I didn't come from a tradition where women were the ones silent, everyone was silent, men and women alike."
We praise the Lord for those godly women who approached Rodger to encourage him in the Word. I had already been in the word for a number of years, but Rodger was too busy with work and causes to really spend much time in it.
Because of these two women my husband and I were able to embark on a whole new adventure of seeking the Word together.
Rodger was raised Catholic from the cradle. He believed he was born a Catholic and was going to die a Catholic. When the Lord got hold of him, he became born again our relationship took a very different path.
Since I was born again before him, we didn't walk together much in spiritual matters. After he became born again our relationship became more of a team working together than each person going their own way.
This is the reason I encourage those who are married to non-believers to hang in there and pray. One never knows what God will use to bring an unsaved spouse to Him.
There will be those who want to inject problems into the marriage by their idea of spirituality. They work to come between husband and wife to cause division. These people use their idea of the "rules", that are not Biblical to encourage the man to dominate over the woman. These people love their dominance and oppression over others, they are trouble makers. There cannot be love when there is dominance. Leading is what God calls for, that is encouragement and love not intimidation and manipulation.
1 Peter 5:3
"Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."
Ephesians 5:25: “For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her."
Genesis 2:24: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." ... He who loves his wife loves himself.
A husband and wife are one, Christ made them that in marriage. The wife is the other half of her husband. It is vitally important that the husband listen to the counselor that God gave him in his other half.
We are former Catholics, one having discovered truth before the other, conflict came, prayer increased and the other became born again about ten years later. It can happen, but one things for sure, it probably won't happen if there isn't much prayer, either by us or by others who are watching.
We must pray for wayward or unsaved spouses. Don't gloat when they become born again, its not our work, its the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. It is a joy when the Lord responds to our prayers.
I still pray for our unsaved children and their spouses, although became weary a couple of years ago and stopped praying for them. I didn't regret that because God heard all those prayers from 40 years ago until now, they still counted. But I needed a rest from thinking about them and their foolishness. After the rest I began again and have continued.
When we become tired of the fight, the stubbornness we see in those we love, then is the time to take a step back and spend some time getting closer to Christ Who lives in us.
All our prayers even past ones still count, there is no time or past and future with God. Never be discouraged that the one more prayer was the one that counted and you didn't do it. Our prayers remain heard even after the last prayer no matter how long ago it was.
All we really want is imbedded in our heart, that is for those who are not yet born again to become so, and those who are pretenders to realize their need to submit to Christ, realizing their good deeds are not going to get them there, nor will their rule following. It is a continual seeking the Holy Spirit that is the evidence of the born again experience.
John 16:12-14 "…12 I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it. 13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"
There are many pretenders who minimize the work of the Holy Spirit as though He must work at our bidding. They do not go to Him for guidance, they command Him what to do.
May this arrogance of telling the Holy Spirit what He should do must go from the mind of the one who prays.
Seeking God means asking Him to show us about ourselves that we might repent and be cleansed.
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."
Luke 18:9-14
"9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
The Book is Out Now! "Narcissism: Second Timothy There is Here"
by Gwendolyn Wehage
"Narcissism: Second Timothy Three is Here"
"Narcissism: Second Timothy Three is Here"
Watch the Video to find out about it.
Found on Amazon
And on Barnes and Noble:
Challenges Build the Muscles
We have so many challenges in this life, its good that we can see those snippets of time when things are lovely for a few minutes or hours and praise God for them.
The real test though is when we can see the difficult things as being blessings too. Knowing that the hardest times are when we learn the most if we are willing to learn. They are the times that build our spiritual and emotional muscle.
Those who do not learn turn bitter and angry, their spiritual and emotional muscles are weak and getting weaker. Those who learn move through the hard things with Christ stronger than ever.
Sometimes it is a strain to look through the hard things to the other side. We can't see the other side, so we must be fixated on the Word of God to trust that what is over there is some relief and a greater reward.
One has to break down the muscle to build it strong again. Any weight lifter will tell you that in order to build big muscles one has to damage the muscle first so that it becomes stronger when it heals.
God operates this way too, He brings challenges to show us what is inside of us. If anger comes out then there is more work for God to do. If we respond with thanksgiving and calmness then God will hone that to a greater level of trust in Him.
He breaks us to mend us stronger than we were before. We need to see our need to be able to confess our flaws so that Christ can heal our spiritual and emotional weakness.
James 1:2-8
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."
Job 2:10 "10“You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said."
Job knew what he was talking about. Few people have lost as much as Job lost and suffered as much as he did and yet he maintained his integrity with God and with others.
The real test though is when we can see the difficult things as being blessings too. Knowing that the hardest times are when we learn the most if we are willing to learn. They are the times that build our spiritual and emotional muscle.
Those who do not learn turn bitter and angry, their spiritual and emotional muscles are weak and getting weaker. Those who learn move through the hard things with Christ stronger than ever.
Sometimes it is a strain to look through the hard things to the other side. We can't see the other side, so we must be fixated on the Word of God to trust that what is over there is some relief and a greater reward.
One has to break down the muscle to build it strong again. Any weight lifter will tell you that in order to build big muscles one has to damage the muscle first so that it becomes stronger when it heals.
God operates this way too, He brings challenges to show us what is inside of us. If anger comes out then there is more work for God to do. If we respond with thanksgiving and calmness then God will hone that to a greater level of trust in Him.
He breaks us to mend us stronger than we were before. We need to see our need to be able to confess our flaws so that Christ can heal our spiritual and emotional weakness.
James 1:2-8
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."
Job 2:10 "10“You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said."
Job knew what he was talking about. Few people have lost as much as Job lost and suffered as much as he did and yet he maintained his integrity with God and with others.
Confessed Mistakes and Sin Help Us Grow
Narcissists associate mistakes with shame. Sadly all of us make mistakes. The only way a narcissist can feel good about self is to pretend they make no mistakes like others.
The most insecure people are those who must hide the mistakes they make to appear superior.
Those who are secure in Christ are not afraid to say, "I did something silly" or "I know I should have....."
The reason narcissists never grow beyond a bratty six year old mentality is because we cannot grow when we deny our mistakes, sins and failures, warts and flaws.
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."
Confession is cleansing promoting emotional and spiritual growth. Those that never confess do not grow.
The most insecure people are those who must hide the mistakes they make to appear superior.
Those who are secure in Christ are not afraid to say, "I did something silly" or "I know I should have....."
The reason narcissists never grow beyond a bratty six year old mentality is because we cannot grow when we deny our mistakes, sins and failures, warts and flaws.
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."
Confession is cleansing promoting emotional and spiritual growth. Those that never confess do not grow.
The Lie of the Century
Yes, the lie that we should forgive without repentance has led people to believe they do not need the forgiveness of anyone, not even God. Because those in the psychological industry have convinced people to forgive those who have sinned without requiring confession of sin, we have a generation now who doesn't believe God needs confession from them to be forgiven or their sin.
Give the Answer a Fool Deserve, that is No Answer at all!
Some tactics of the narcissist are evident to those who have been a target.
One of the things the narcissist say is "everyone else knows your like this", they have the sense that if they draw others in we will be demolished and give in to their whims. Even though there is no evidence that "everyone" knows the victim is crazy, they will assert it to bring frustration.
Gaslighting is a very deceptive tactic of the narcissist. They will accuse the victim of things that are not true that they did and the victim did not. Never attempt to defend yourself against these people, they love any response at all, it only feeds them more to be able to continue the attack. They love to fight while charging the victim with insanity.
I have actually seen this, the narcissist will brutally bludgeon someone with verbal rage until the victim is in a meltdown on the floor, crying and hysterical. When the narcissists sees this they become gleeful and their attack becomes worse. They then accuse their victim of becoming insane. The reality is that normal rational people do not take a melt down as an opportunity to be more intensely mean. A normal rational person feels empathy for the one who is hurting so badly that they would melt down in this way. The narcissist enjoys the power from causing the melt down in others, they see these people as weak and vulnerable. As they see it, the melt down is an opportunity to further dominate and hurt their victim.
I have heard all these things, every one of them. They poke at you until you become a basket case and then accuse their victim of going insane. A dead giveaway of narcissistic behavior is when they get worse when their victim is hurting the most.
They did their nonsense to cause a melt down so that they can accuse the victim of irrational behavior.
I witnessed a man sitting in a chair, swinging his leg, his face was turning red and he tried to appear calm and said, "you seem angry." He was visibly angry while accusing his victim of being angry when she was not. This is classic narcissism.
Beware when you were sure you did something right and the narcissist comes along and uses words like, "You are irrational" or "you are a liar." When we hear words like these after doing something good or right, then you can be sure you are dealing with the narcissist.
The narcissist never works to understand others their only goal is to dominate and control. It is impossible to have a rational, calm, loving conversation with anyone whose goal is domination and control. These people do not care about you one wit.
Be sure that the narcissist will accuse their victims of the things the narcissist is doing and their victims are not. When you see this do not allow it to diminish your perceptions. You know in your heart what your motives were and what actually happened. The narcissist wants you to believe you saw it all wrong and you were at fault.
I have had narcissists actually chastise me for doing a good deed that any normal person would appreciate. They do this because the cannot stand your joy or accomplishment. Jealousy is a huge factor in the motivation of the narcissist.
James 3:16
"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice."
Proverbs 14:30
"A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot."
Sadly the narcissist harms themselves more than their victims when the victim begins to see what is happening. No one can stand up to the narcissistic nonsense forever, eventually they are going to say enough is enough.
The narcissist only gains temporary power over others, eventually they will be alone and more miserable than they already are for their efforts to be elevated above others.
1 Corinthians 3:3
"For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?"
Romans 12:21
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
The answer to this problem is to remove ourselves from the narcissist. When we have to encounter them or live with them, then the best way to handle them is not to respond to the attacks, pray and gain strength from God as we never respond in kind. We must not become like them.
Never attempt to explain anything to the narcissist, merely state the truth and remain calm.
Proverbs 26:4-5
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Or you will also be like him.
5 Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
That he not be wise in his own eyes.
The answer to the fool is no answer at all that is what they deserve.
One of the things the narcissist say is "everyone else knows your like this", they have the sense that if they draw others in we will be demolished and give in to their whims. Even though there is no evidence that "everyone" knows the victim is crazy, they will assert it to bring frustration.
Gaslighting is a very deceptive tactic of the narcissist. They will accuse the victim of things that are not true that they did and the victim did not. Never attempt to defend yourself against these people, they love any response at all, it only feeds them more to be able to continue the attack. They love to fight while charging the victim with insanity.
I have actually seen this, the narcissist will brutally bludgeon someone with verbal rage until the victim is in a meltdown on the floor, crying and hysterical. When the narcissists sees this they become gleeful and their attack becomes worse. They then accuse their victim of becoming insane. The reality is that normal rational people do not take a melt down as an opportunity to be more intensely mean. A normal rational person feels empathy for the one who is hurting so badly that they would melt down in this way. The narcissist enjoys the power from causing the melt down in others, they see these people as weak and vulnerable. As they see it, the melt down is an opportunity to further dominate and hurt their victim.
I have heard all these things, every one of them. They poke at you until you become a basket case and then accuse their victim of going insane. A dead giveaway of narcissistic behavior is when they get worse when their victim is hurting the most.
They did their nonsense to cause a melt down so that they can accuse the victim of irrational behavior.
I witnessed a man sitting in a chair, swinging his leg, his face was turning red and he tried to appear calm and said, "you seem angry." He was visibly angry while accusing his victim of being angry when she was not. This is classic narcissism.
Beware when you were sure you did something right and the narcissist comes along and uses words like, "You are irrational" or "you are a liar." When we hear words like these after doing something good or right, then you can be sure you are dealing with the narcissist.
The narcissist never works to understand others their only goal is to dominate and control. It is impossible to have a rational, calm, loving conversation with anyone whose goal is domination and control. These people do not care about you one wit.
Be sure that the narcissist will accuse their victims of the things the narcissist is doing and their victims are not. When you see this do not allow it to diminish your perceptions. You know in your heart what your motives were and what actually happened. The narcissist wants you to believe you saw it all wrong and you were at fault.
I have had narcissists actually chastise me for doing a good deed that any normal person would appreciate. They do this because the cannot stand your joy or accomplishment. Jealousy is a huge factor in the motivation of the narcissist.
James 3:16
"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice."
Proverbs 14:30
"A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot."
Sadly the narcissist harms themselves more than their victims when the victim begins to see what is happening. No one can stand up to the narcissistic nonsense forever, eventually they are going to say enough is enough.
The narcissist only gains temporary power over others, eventually they will be alone and more miserable than they already are for their efforts to be elevated above others.
1 Corinthians 3:3
"For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?"
Romans 12:21
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
The answer to this problem is to remove ourselves from the narcissist. When we have to encounter them or live with them, then the best way to handle them is not to respond to the attacks, pray and gain strength from God as we never respond in kind. We must not become like them.
Never attempt to explain anything to the narcissist, merely state the truth and remain calm.
Proverbs 26:4-5
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Or you will also be like him.
5 Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
That he not be wise in his own eyes.
The answer to the fool is no answer at all that is what they deserve.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
2 Timothy Three Really is Here!
God has been opening the understanding of the Bible and its prophesy for this last generation. We know more the fulfillment of prophesy now than did the writers whom God inspired.
The inspired writers of the bible knew what they wrote and what God said but they did not know what they meant. We now know much of what was meant by living through prophesy today.
Daniel 12:4 "4 But you, Daniel, shut up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam to and fro, and knowledge will increase.”
So many things God told us would happen are being seen today in this generation. The words have been unsealed in these last days, all we have to do is read and pray to observe what God told the prophets so long ago.
How anyone who is born again could be indifferent to prophesy is beyond me.
The inspired writers of the bible knew what they wrote and what God said but they did not know what they meant. We now know much of what was meant by living through prophesy today.
Daniel 12:4 "4 But you, Daniel, shut up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam to and fro, and knowledge will increase.”
So many things God told us would happen are being seen today in this generation. The words have been unsealed in these last days, all we have to do is read and pray to observe what God told the prophets so long ago.
How anyone who is born again could be indifferent to prophesy is beyond me.
Boundaries are not Bitterness
There is no validity to the assertion that we become bitter just because someone will not be sorry. I have learned that remaining in the lives of those who are not sorry will not change them or us.
There will be times when problems cannot be resolved with those who are stubborn. How can we resolve something when the other person will not listen, perhaps rages in anger and will not consider what we are saying. So often these people are jealous and superior, they will not rationally discuss or attempt to understand, they merely want to win. It is an exercise in futility to try to work anything out with them.
The problem is that there is no love in stubborn people, only the desire to win over others!
I confess I have little patience with those who will not discuss a matter with the desire to learn about their offensiveness. Humble people want to know to correct themselves, but the narcissists gains narcissistic supply by keeping us upset. The key is do not be upset, but draw a clear boundary, a line in the sand that will not be crossed. If it is crossed then that person cannot be in our lives, they do not respect our boundaries because they do not respect us.
There will be times when problems cannot be resolved with those who are stubborn. How can we resolve something when the other person will not listen, perhaps rages in anger and will not consider what we are saying. So often these people are jealous and superior, they will not rationally discuss or attempt to understand, they merely want to win. It is an exercise in futility to try to work anything out with them.
The problem is that there is no love in stubborn people, only the desire to win over others!
I confess I have little patience with those who will not discuss a matter with the desire to learn about their offensiveness. Humble people want to know to correct themselves, but the narcissists gains narcissistic supply by keeping us upset. The key is do not be upset, but draw a clear boundary, a line in the sand that will not be crossed. If it is crossed then that person cannot be in our lives, they do not respect our boundaries because they do not respect us.
Forgiveness Without Confession is not Forgiveness at All
We have no business forgiving someone for their sin against someone else. This enables the one who sins to avoid having to go to the one they have harmed. Confessing sin is a necessary step in demonstrating humility and a desire to turn from that sin never to repeat it.
God commanded that we forgive those who have come to us to confess. No where in the Word are we commanded to forgive those who do not believe they did anything wrong and who will not confess.
If someone came to me to confess sin against my husband and ask my forgiveness I would tell them "no, I do not forgive you, you must go to my husband for forgiveness."
When we forgive someone who wrongs someone else we are showing our support for the one who sinned while being disloyal to the one they harmed.
Pampering the evil man is to mock God and demean those they have harmed.
Jeremiah 6:13-15 "…13“For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain. From prophet to priest, all practice deceit. 14 They have dressed the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all. 15 Were they ashamed of the abomination they committed? No, they were not at all ashamed. They did not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD.…"
Our culture is becoming more evil all the time because of the mentality that we should just "let it go", without accountability and without justice. Notice I said justice, it is unjust to forgive those who are not sorry and have no interest in changing their behavior.
Jeremiah 5:12-13 "12 They have lied about the LORD and said, “He will not do anything; harm will not come to us; we will not see sword or famine. 13 The prophets are but wind, for the LORD’s word is not in them. So let their own words be done to them.”…"
By forgiving without repentance we have managed to help the unsaved to believe they can do anything at all without having to account for it.
Jeremiah 23:14 "Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem:
They commit adultery and walk in lies;
They also strengthen the hands of evildoers,
So that no one turns back from his wickedness.
All of them are like Sodom to Me,
And her inhabitants like Gomorrah."
We have strengthened the hands of evil doers by extending forgiveness before there is any repentance.
Isaiah 26:10 "10 Though 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. "
The false doctrine of forgiveness without repentance is from the devil and has managed to encourage evil. All we have to do is look at how wicked things are in our culture right now and how pervasive is the doctrine of forgiveness without repentance.
God told us to forgive the way He forgave, that way was never without confession of sin.
1 John 1:9 "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."
Sadly many people have been pressured to forgive sinful people who refuse to turn from their ways. This has placed a monstrous pressure on the victim while coddling the bully.
I do not forgive Hitler for his atrocities. It is not for me to forgive him. I do not forgive the murderer who sits in the courtroom completely irreverent and lacking remorse.
Does this make me bitter, no, I have no feelings of bitterness nor do I ponder their acts day and night, no I do not.
The lie that we must forgive to keep from being bitter is based on psychology that presumes that we will be bitter if we do not forgive. The truth is "I forgive you" said to a wicked man who is not sorry does nothing at all. They are just words that fall to the ground.
We are living under the dilution that simply saying something makes it happen. There is no power in words at all unless they are God's Words. Our culture has mistakenly give power to words spoken by man akin to the prosperity preachers that say just have faith, just claim it and it will appear.
When we realize we have no power to make anything happen by our own words, we see the silliness of simply saying "I forgive you" to the unrepentant person.
Confession and forgiveness as described in the Bible is a wonderful thing. It takes away the obstacle in the relationship. No obstacle is removed when one party wants to forgive and the other one doesn't even think they did anything wrong. The obstacle remains no matter what you say.
Say anything you want, it doesn't bring about change nor does it remove bitterness. If there is bitterness it must be dealt with by God not merely a declaration of words said to make one "feel" better momentarily.
There are those who say "I forgive them but I cannot forget", they do this for the momentary high ground but there has been no forgiveness or the relationship would be restored. There is no restored relationship because there has been no sorrow over the harm done on the part of the one who sinned.
True forgiveness extended comes for the reconciling of a relationship after there has been confession of sin. No confession, no brokenness or sorrow over harming others and there is no forgiveness.
When we "say" we forgive when there has been no contrition of heart on the part of the of offender, then all we have done is empowered sin and cheapened the word of God through our human traditions.
Relationships can only be restored if both are present ,that is confession and forgiveness. They are a matched set that cannot be separated.
Now having said all that, as believers we are desiring to forgive when a person is ready to confess. When the offender refuses to see their sin and even justifies it, they are the ones who prevent the reconciliation by their stubbornness.
The best thing to do in these cases is to remove ourselves from them while praying that they might one day see their sin against us and confess it. In the mean time we must carry on in the will of God and leave that offender to God.
Never, never, never pressure a believer to forgive someone who has offended, this merely prevents a possibility of discussion and reconciliation. Reconciliation can only happen when there has been a conversation, the forgiveness without confession prevents a conversation that might help someone grow spiritually or become born again.
Unbelievers need to understand that God does not forgive them when they refuse to admit their sinners in need of a Savior. These people will go to hell for resisting the free gift of God, that is given when there is repentance.
Whenever you forgive a sinner without repentance you are giving a false view of what is needed to come to Christ for salvation. God does not ask us to do something differently from what He does.
When Christ said; "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." He was not forgiving them, He was asking the Father to extend forgiveness, but it would only be given to those who confess their sinfulness and trust in Christ.
Psalm 32:5
Then I confessed my sins to you;
I did not conceal my wrongdoings.
I decided to confess them to you,
and you forgave all my sins.
Psalm 69:5
"My sins, O God, are not hidden from you;
you know how foolish I have been."
Proverbs 28:13
'13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion."
Jeremiah 3:13 "13 Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God. You have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every green tree and have not obeyed My voice,’” declares the LORD. "
1 John 1:9 "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, IF, IF)
Absolutely no relationships can be properly reconciled without these steps. God was clear!!!
God commanded that we forgive those who have come to us to confess. No where in the Word are we commanded to forgive those who do not believe they did anything wrong and who will not confess.
If someone came to me to confess sin against my husband and ask my forgiveness I would tell them "no, I do not forgive you, you must go to my husband for forgiveness."
When we forgive someone who wrongs someone else we are showing our support for the one who sinned while being disloyal to the one they harmed.
Pampering the evil man is to mock God and demean those they have harmed.
Jeremiah 6:13-15 "…13“For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain. From prophet to priest, all practice deceit. 14 They have dressed the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all. 15 Were they ashamed of the abomination they committed? No, they were not at all ashamed. They did not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD.…"
Our culture is becoming more evil all the time because of the mentality that we should just "let it go", without accountability and without justice. Notice I said justice, it is unjust to forgive those who are not sorry and have no interest in changing their behavior.
Jeremiah 5:12-13 "12 They have lied about the LORD and said, “He will not do anything; harm will not come to us; we will not see sword or famine. 13 The prophets are but wind, for the LORD’s word is not in them. So let their own words be done to them.”…"
By forgiving without repentance we have managed to help the unsaved to believe they can do anything at all without having to account for it.
Jeremiah 23:14 "Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem:
They commit adultery and walk in lies;
They also strengthen the hands of evildoers,
So that no one turns back from his wickedness.
All of them are like Sodom to Me,
And her inhabitants like Gomorrah."
We have strengthened the hands of evil doers by extending forgiveness before there is any repentance.
Isaiah 26:10 "10 Though 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. "
The false doctrine of forgiveness without repentance is from the devil and has managed to encourage evil. All we have to do is look at how wicked things are in our culture right now and how pervasive is the doctrine of forgiveness without repentance.
God told us to forgive the way He forgave, that way was never without confession of sin.
1 John 1:9 "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."
Sadly many people have been pressured to forgive sinful people who refuse to turn from their ways. This has placed a monstrous pressure on the victim while coddling the bully.
I do not forgive Hitler for his atrocities. It is not for me to forgive him. I do not forgive the murderer who sits in the courtroom completely irreverent and lacking remorse.
Does this make me bitter, no, I have no feelings of bitterness nor do I ponder their acts day and night, no I do not.
The lie that we must forgive to keep from being bitter is based on psychology that presumes that we will be bitter if we do not forgive. The truth is "I forgive you" said to a wicked man who is not sorry does nothing at all. They are just words that fall to the ground.
We are living under the dilution that simply saying something makes it happen. There is no power in words at all unless they are God's Words. Our culture has mistakenly give power to words spoken by man akin to the prosperity preachers that say just have faith, just claim it and it will appear.
When we realize we have no power to make anything happen by our own words, we see the silliness of simply saying "I forgive you" to the unrepentant person.
Confession and forgiveness as described in the Bible is a wonderful thing. It takes away the obstacle in the relationship. No obstacle is removed when one party wants to forgive and the other one doesn't even think they did anything wrong. The obstacle remains no matter what you say.
Say anything you want, it doesn't bring about change nor does it remove bitterness. If there is bitterness it must be dealt with by God not merely a declaration of words said to make one "feel" better momentarily.
There are those who say "I forgive them but I cannot forget", they do this for the momentary high ground but there has been no forgiveness or the relationship would be restored. There is no restored relationship because there has been no sorrow over the harm done on the part of the one who sinned.
True forgiveness extended comes for the reconciling of a relationship after there has been confession of sin. No confession, no brokenness or sorrow over harming others and there is no forgiveness.
When we "say" we forgive when there has been no contrition of heart on the part of the of offender, then all we have done is empowered sin and cheapened the word of God through our human traditions.
Relationships can only be restored if both are present ,that is confession and forgiveness. They are a matched set that cannot be separated.
Now having said all that, as believers we are desiring to forgive when a person is ready to confess. When the offender refuses to see their sin and even justifies it, they are the ones who prevent the reconciliation by their stubbornness.
The best thing to do in these cases is to remove ourselves from them while praying that they might one day see their sin against us and confess it. In the mean time we must carry on in the will of God and leave that offender to God.
Never, never, never pressure a believer to forgive someone who has offended, this merely prevents a possibility of discussion and reconciliation. Reconciliation can only happen when there has been a conversation, the forgiveness without confession prevents a conversation that might help someone grow spiritually or become born again.
Unbelievers need to understand that God does not forgive them when they refuse to admit their sinners in need of a Savior. These people will go to hell for resisting the free gift of God, that is given when there is repentance.
Whenever you forgive a sinner without repentance you are giving a false view of what is needed to come to Christ for salvation. God does not ask us to do something differently from what He does.
When Christ said; "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." He was not forgiving them, He was asking the Father to extend forgiveness, but it would only be given to those who confess their sinfulness and trust in Christ.
Psalm 32:5
Then I confessed my sins to you;
I did not conceal my wrongdoings.
I decided to confess them to you,
and you forgave all my sins.
Psalm 69:5
"My sins, O God, are not hidden from you;
you know how foolish I have been."
Proverbs 28:13
'13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion."
Jeremiah 3:13 "13 Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God. You have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every green tree and have not obeyed My voice,’” declares the LORD. "
1 John 1:9 "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, IF, IF)
Absolutely no relationships can be properly reconciled without these steps. God was clear!!!
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Feelings are not Facts
Those who are always bringing up their feelings act as though they believe their feelings are facts. They think this: "If I felt hurt or threatened then you must have done something wrong." Or even worse; "If I felt hurt or threatened you are a bad person."
We see this all the time among those who have very high opinions of their own importance. When someone operates this way on a regular basis, diminishing the experiences of others to elevate self, we know we have encountered a narcissist.
No one is perfect and may slip into this once or twice but are not using it continually and even express sorrow that they were controlling.
However, I have known people who continually act this way in nearly every encounter with them.
These people cannot stand someone else's happiness or joy and must do something to diminish the joy.
When we live in a entire culture of this narcissistic mentality we will see the signs everywhere. Sadly we begin to see this behavior as normal, after all nearly everyone is acting this way.
This is why I believe our Lord told us to "come out from among them." He also said; "bad company corrupts good habits."
Those we choose to spend time with will influence our responses to life, even if in unnoticeable ways. Narcissist goad their target into ungodly responses and then accuse us of the ungodly response. It is best to stay away from, if at all possible, those who use these tactics all the time. If we cannot get away from them entirely we must remain silent without response or emotion. Allow them to only see themselves without enabling from us in our responses.
The narcissist feeds on any kind of response at all. If you are happy they will goad a little more attempting to make you unhappy. If you are sad they will feel glee that they have made you miserable. Do not suck into your soul anything they do or say, simply walk away and avoid them.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
Get used to this brothers and sisters but learn the ways to deal with it. We are living in "perilous times", things will get worse but we have a great hope. That hope is the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to remove His church. See you at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb if not before. Hallelujah!
Susan Frances said this:
"Anybody who lives by their FEELINGS might as well just get a rubber stamp that says "DESTROYED" and stamp it across their life."
We see this all the time among those who have very high opinions of their own importance. When someone operates this way on a regular basis, diminishing the experiences of others to elevate self, we know we have encountered a narcissist.
No one is perfect and may slip into this once or twice but are not using it continually and even express sorrow that they were controlling.
However, I have known people who continually act this way in nearly every encounter with them.
These people cannot stand someone else's happiness or joy and must do something to diminish the joy.
When we live in a entire culture of this narcissistic mentality we will see the signs everywhere. Sadly we begin to see this behavior as normal, after all nearly everyone is acting this way.
This is why I believe our Lord told us to "come out from among them." He also said; "bad company corrupts good habits."
Those we choose to spend time with will influence our responses to life, even if in unnoticeable ways. Narcissist goad their target into ungodly responses and then accuse us of the ungodly response. It is best to stay away from, if at all possible, those who use these tactics all the time. If we cannot get away from them entirely we must remain silent without response or emotion. Allow them to only see themselves without enabling from us in our responses.
The narcissist feeds on any kind of response at all. If you are happy they will goad a little more attempting to make you unhappy. If you are sad they will feel glee that they have made you miserable. Do not suck into your soul anything they do or say, simply walk away and avoid them.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
Get used to this brothers and sisters but learn the ways to deal with it. We are living in "perilous times", things will get worse but we have a great hope. That hope is the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to remove His church. See you at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb if not before. Hallelujah!
Susan Frances said this:
"Anybody who lives by their FEELINGS might as well just get a rubber stamp that says "DESTROYED" and stamp it across their life."
Friday, February 22, 2019
When Life Kicks You Around
When life kicks you around for God to get your attention, be excited it means you are being redirected.
Backsliding in my understanding is a Christian who becomes lazy and slides back into sin. These people would never reject Christ they would just ignore Him for a time. When God allows consequences of sin to kick them around enough to where they are broken, then they confess their sin, know they deserved what happened to them and are restored to fellowship with Christ. Sin never loses an authentic born again believer to lose their eternal salvation.
Hebrews 13:5 "Let your manner of living be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have. For He hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”;"
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."
1 John 1:9 was written to born again believers.
If we persist in sin the Holy Spirit will stop speaking to us and will not help us in anything we need or want.
1 Thessalonians 5:18-20 "…18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not extinguish the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt,…"
Backsliding in my understanding is a Christian who becomes lazy and slides back into sin. These people would never reject Christ they would just ignore Him for a time. When God allows consequences of sin to kick them around enough to where they are broken, then they confess their sin, know they deserved what happened to them and are restored to fellowship with Christ. Sin never loses an authentic born again believer to lose their eternal salvation.
Hebrews 13:5 "Let your manner of living be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have. For He hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”;"
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."
1 John 1:9 was written to born again believers.
If we persist in sin the Holy Spirit will stop speaking to us and will not help us in anything we need or want.
1 Thessalonians 5:18-20 "…18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not extinguish the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt,…"
These Last Days of Lawlessness
Its interesting that in these last days of lawlessness feelings are elevated to the status of facts, even when they are irrational and untrue.
The liberal left accuses conservatives of the very thing the liberals are doing but the conservatives are not.
Not all conservatives are Christian and some we see elevate feelings to fact status, but mostly we see this on the liberal left who are enraged at God and anyone who follows Him.
I have seen many times when the liberals were accusing conservatives of violence but it was the liberals who were acting violently.
Conservative does not always translate to born again, but those who are not at least uphold some of the important principles of the Bible even if they are not aware of it.
No one will get to heaven based on their political leanings. All who go there will need to trust Christ to be born again that is for sure.
However, in the discussion of narcissism it is clear which side is far more narcissistic than the other. It is the liberals who call conservatives mean spirited while thy spew venom to insight others to bully conservatives.
The good news is that God knows all about this! He knows where its all going, there are no surprises for God. We can trust Him fully with our future as born again believers.
Colossians 1:16-18 "…16 For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.…"
The liberal left accuses conservatives of the very thing the liberals are doing but the conservatives are not.
Not all conservatives are Christian and some we see elevate feelings to fact status, but mostly we see this on the liberal left who are enraged at God and anyone who follows Him.
I have seen many times when the liberals were accusing conservatives of violence but it was the liberals who were acting violently.
Conservative does not always translate to born again, but those who are not at least uphold some of the important principles of the Bible even if they are not aware of it.
No one will get to heaven based on their political leanings. All who go there will need to trust Christ to be born again that is for sure.
However, in the discussion of narcissism it is clear which side is far more narcissistic than the other. It is the liberals who call conservatives mean spirited while thy spew venom to insight others to bully conservatives.
The good news is that God knows all about this! He knows where its all going, there are no surprises for God. We can trust Him fully with our future as born again believers.
Colossians 1:16-18 "…16 For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.…"
The Respect is Gone Because the Love is Gone
Its the respect that's missing in our culture today because the love is gone.
The younger ones think they must teach the older ones. Such arrogance is evident in nearly every interaction.
The younger ones "feel" a sense of having a right to praise!
Is anyone else as tired of this disrespect as I am?
I am weary of being spoken down to by those who have lived half as long as I have.
In one interaction in recent years I was adding sugar to some coffee, I guess I was taking too long to do it. The young person who was with me grabbed the spoon from my hand in irritation to finish doing it for me. If this had been done in kindness there would have not been any irritation and no grabbing.
Because the younger generation think they are right they justify rudeness.
Why do young people think older people should be treated like helpless foolish children?
I never did this to my mother, nor any other elderly person. In fact I didn't know anyone in my generation who did things like that and yet we see it now all the time. The youth of our country are becoming more foolish than the previous generation.
1 Corinthians 2:14
"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."
Proverbs 1:7
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Galatians 6:7-8
"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
The younger ones think they must teach the older ones. Such arrogance is evident in nearly every interaction.
The younger ones "feel" a sense of having a right to praise!
Is anyone else as tired of this disrespect as I am?
I am weary of being spoken down to by those who have lived half as long as I have.
In one interaction in recent years I was adding sugar to some coffee, I guess I was taking too long to do it. The young person who was with me grabbed the spoon from my hand in irritation to finish doing it for me. If this had been done in kindness there would have not been any irritation and no grabbing.
Because the younger generation think they are right they justify rudeness.
Why do young people think older people should be treated like helpless foolish children?
I never did this to my mother, nor any other elderly person. In fact I didn't know anyone in my generation who did things like that and yet we see it now all the time. The youth of our country are becoming more foolish than the previous generation.
1 Corinthians 2:14
"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."
Proverbs 1:7
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Galatians 6:7-8
"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
Lack of Accountability Has Ruined Our Culture
People will not stop doing evil when it is working for them.
We live in a world in which sin is ignored, accepted and even embraced by nearly everyone.
Over time in our culture rudeness and sin has become the norm. The one who says that something is rude is the one who is called mean.
The liberals have been teaching for years "forgiveness" whether or not someone is sorry. This comes from psychology which is based on Darwinism. Its not at all Biblical and yet so many Christians have accepted it to the degree that they cannot wrap their minds around the truth anymore.
I wonder if people who think this would take the time to look around them and notice that all this philosophy has managed to do is enable those who are evil. No one can deny that evil has grown exponentially in the past 30 years. So much so that this evil dominates everything. Now we have far more evil than we have good going on. Even the good deeds of many are being done to elevate self. The evidence of this is the internet and cell phones in which people are taking pictures of their good deeds to make sure everyone sees them.
Matthew 6:1-2 "1 Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be praised by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.…"
"The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Edmond Burke
We live in a world now, even among Christians, in which righteousness has been silenced by the intimidation of being seen as mean if one attempts to make others accountable for their wicked behavior.
The false premise that we are to forgive when there is no repentance has fostered an entitlement mentality while comforting the evil person to continue in their evil.
There is often now more comfort and support for the evil person than there is for the victim. In a culture like this narcissists can lie at will, and those who are undiscerning will embrace them as they ruin another person's life.
Our culture encourages lying by lack of evidence as well as calling the righteous out for embracing truth.
Does anyone remember the story of "The Emperors New Clothes"?
Perhaps its time to stop repeating what psychology has taught and begin to seek God for truth. When we do this we find truth every different from what the culture has been teaching, even the Christian culture.
The important thing to remember is that when we seek truth in honesty and through prayer, we must be willing to throw out everything we have been taught to relearn the principles of God from the Bible. We cannot mix the cultural teachings with the Word of God, this will only bring serious error.
The devil loves to mix truth with error leading the culture toward destruction. The longer someone believes the lie the harder it is for them to believe the truth when it walks in front of them.
There are far more lies in the modern church than there is truth. We see what happens when a culture abandons prayer and seeking Christ to embrace the tenets of psychology. Truth is no longer tolerated in these cultures while error is taught, it just "feels" better than the truth. Satan is clever that way, he always makes truth more comfortable and pleasurable.
The devil managed to get Eve to believe she could be like God. He appealed to her pride and desire to be special. He is still doing this today with the self esteem teaching.
Another tactic of the devil it to intimidate people into believing they have done something wrong or mean when they confront error and even sin.
When a wicked culture can manage to silence truth by intimidating believers, they can more effectively dominate.
I am just old enough that I remember the day when "hell fire and brimstone" preaching was normal. Now if this kind of preaching of truth were to be done most of the people in the pews would melt into a puddle as snow flakes do.
Straight talk has been replaced with fluffy, feelings oriented motivational speeches to leave people feeling empowered about whatever they want in life, even sin.
Fluffy talk only manages to empower sin. Yes there is a place for tenderness and softness, but it is never for the rebellious heart that loves their sin.
Titus 1:12-14 "…12 As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sternly, so that they will be sound in the faith 14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of men who have rejected the truth."
There is a place for harsh rebuke, but our culture has refused to do it when it was necessary. Therefore today we have an out of control selfish culture of entitlement.
How is all that fake love working out for us? Its not helping to change hearts, nor is it preaching truth.
We live in a world in which sin is ignored, accepted and even embraced by nearly everyone.
Over time in our culture rudeness and sin has become the norm. The one who says that something is rude is the one who is called mean.
The liberals have been teaching for years "forgiveness" whether or not someone is sorry. This comes from psychology which is based on Darwinism. Its not at all Biblical and yet so many Christians have accepted it to the degree that they cannot wrap their minds around the truth anymore.
I wonder if people who think this would take the time to look around them and notice that all this philosophy has managed to do is enable those who are evil. No one can deny that evil has grown exponentially in the past 30 years. So much so that this evil dominates everything. Now we have far more evil than we have good going on. Even the good deeds of many are being done to elevate self. The evidence of this is the internet and cell phones in which people are taking pictures of their good deeds to make sure everyone sees them.
Matthew 6:1-2 "1 Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be praised by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.…"
"The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Edmond Burke
We live in a world now, even among Christians, in which righteousness has been silenced by the intimidation of being seen as mean if one attempts to make others accountable for their wicked behavior.
The false premise that we are to forgive when there is no repentance has fostered an entitlement mentality while comforting the evil person to continue in their evil.
There is often now more comfort and support for the evil person than there is for the victim. In a culture like this narcissists can lie at will, and those who are undiscerning will embrace them as they ruin another person's life.
Our culture encourages lying by lack of evidence as well as calling the righteous out for embracing truth.
Does anyone remember the story of "The Emperors New Clothes"?
Perhaps its time to stop repeating what psychology has taught and begin to seek God for truth. When we do this we find truth every different from what the culture has been teaching, even the Christian culture.
The important thing to remember is that when we seek truth in honesty and through prayer, we must be willing to throw out everything we have been taught to relearn the principles of God from the Bible. We cannot mix the cultural teachings with the Word of God, this will only bring serious error.
The devil loves to mix truth with error leading the culture toward destruction. The longer someone believes the lie the harder it is for them to believe the truth when it walks in front of them.
There are far more lies in the modern church than there is truth. We see what happens when a culture abandons prayer and seeking Christ to embrace the tenets of psychology. Truth is no longer tolerated in these cultures while error is taught, it just "feels" better than the truth. Satan is clever that way, he always makes truth more comfortable and pleasurable.
The devil managed to get Eve to believe she could be like God. He appealed to her pride and desire to be special. He is still doing this today with the self esteem teaching.
Another tactic of the devil it to intimidate people into believing they have done something wrong or mean when they confront error and even sin.
When a wicked culture can manage to silence truth by intimidating believers, they can more effectively dominate.
I am just old enough that I remember the day when "hell fire and brimstone" preaching was normal. Now if this kind of preaching of truth were to be done most of the people in the pews would melt into a puddle as snow flakes do.
Straight talk has been replaced with fluffy, feelings oriented motivational speeches to leave people feeling empowered about whatever they want in life, even sin.
Fluffy talk only manages to empower sin. Yes there is a place for tenderness and softness, but it is never for the rebellious heart that loves their sin.
Titus 1:12-14 "…12 As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sternly, so that they will be sound in the faith 14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of men who have rejected the truth."
There is a place for harsh rebuke, but our culture has refused to do it when it was necessary. Therefore today we have an out of control selfish culture of entitlement.
How is all that fake love working out for us? Its not helping to change hearts, nor is it preaching truth.
Thursday, February 21, 2019
The Christian Adventure
What a great story!!!! Preaching on the bus, left back pack, prayed, chased the bus in a taxi while preaching to the cab drive, bad in tact untouched with all goods still in it. LOL Someone couldn't make this stuff up.
Love it Dawn, the Christian life is very exciting!!! Even with the opposition there is adventure and solutions. Hallelujah!
Do Not Believe Everyone
We are living in apostate times now! Many who claim they are speaking for God are not his ambassadors, but rather they are enemies of Christ.
This is vitally important, that we seek Christ alone. When someone says something we must go to prayer and study of the Word to be sure of God's truth. So many things we were taught are not from God's word but from man's mind.
Jeremiah 23:14
"But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.”
We see the corruption in the Catholic church among the priests today. These men claim to be mediators between God and man, but they are not, they are wicked and full of lies just as the Pharisees were.
The protestant church today is no different. Many who claim to be ministers of God are nothing more than paid workers preaching soft words to keep their paycheck coming.
Any leader in a gathering who lords it over others claiming the "underlings" cannot question them, is not from God. Manipulation, intimidation and control over others is not from God. Every leader must be accountable to the rest of the body. God says he is to lead by example and teaching. He does not have control over believers, only the Holy Spirit has that.
Matthew 20:26-27
"26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;"
1 Peter 5 "Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
This is vitally important, that we seek Christ alone. When someone says something we must go to prayer and study of the Word to be sure of God's truth. So many things we were taught are not from God's word but from man's mind.
Jeremiah 23:14
"But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.”
We see the corruption in the Catholic church among the priests today. These men claim to be mediators between God and man, but they are not, they are wicked and full of lies just as the Pharisees were.
The protestant church today is no different. Many who claim to be ministers of God are nothing more than paid workers preaching soft words to keep their paycheck coming.
Any leader in a gathering who lords it over others claiming the "underlings" cannot question them, is not from God. Manipulation, intimidation and control over others is not from God. Every leader must be accountable to the rest of the body. God says he is to lead by example and teaching. He does not have control over believers, only the Holy Spirit has that.
Matthew 20:26-27
"26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;"
1 Peter 5 "Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
No Man Can Teach Better Than the Holy Spirit
I would not recommend discipleship these days. I was not discipled and am so glad I was not. All the Christians in my life over the years were attempting to bring me into their doctrine of men. I studied for myself with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and was better off for it. I had no preconceived ideas of men, only the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit. Paul the apostle had only Christ and we can too.
Matthew 23:15-16 "… 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. 16 Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’…"
One brother who thought I knew nothing told me his counsel to another new believing woman was to look at hard core porn with her unsaved husband because she must obey her husband. This is not only unbiblical it is monstrous.
Placing guilt on a new believer to do evil just to obey an ungodly man is wicked. This is the kind of foolishness that I heard from these "disciplers." I met so many arrogant and self righteous people who called themselves Christian that I wanted nothing to do with their brand of Christianity.
If I had been seeking the approval of men I would have been sucked into their monstrous idea of womanly piety.
If I had not been seeking God but approval of men I would have been turned away from Christ for the mean spirited arrogance I saw every day.
I am thankful that, like Paul the apostle, I was taught for a number of years by Christ alone. I rejected all the foolishness modern Christians were attempting to feed me. Even as a new believer I didn't fit into the churchianity and rulishness of these pharisee types. If I had believed that this was Christianity I would have walked away and never looked back.
Instead the Lord taught me His way causing me to reject the nonsense those pharisees were wanting to force down my throat.
When I became born again I began to see all the things the pharisees in my world were doing as very wrong and not at all biblical. They hated this, they wanted to dominate me into their club of humanistic Christianity, but I wanted the real thing.
You see, no man can teach us better than the Holy Spirit Himself! NO MAN!
Matthew 23:15-16 "… 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. 16 Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’…"
One brother who thought I knew nothing told me his counsel to another new believing woman was to look at hard core porn with her unsaved husband because she must obey her husband. This is not only unbiblical it is monstrous.
Placing guilt on a new believer to do evil just to obey an ungodly man is wicked. This is the kind of foolishness that I heard from these "disciplers." I met so many arrogant and self righteous people who called themselves Christian that I wanted nothing to do with their brand of Christianity.
If I had been seeking the approval of men I would have been sucked into their monstrous idea of womanly piety.
If I had not been seeking God but approval of men I would have been turned away from Christ for the mean spirited arrogance I saw every day.
I am thankful that, like Paul the apostle, I was taught for a number of years by Christ alone. I rejected all the foolishness modern Christians were attempting to feed me. Even as a new believer I didn't fit into the churchianity and rulishness of these pharisee types. If I had believed that this was Christianity I would have walked away and never looked back.
Instead the Lord taught me His way causing me to reject the nonsense those pharisees were wanting to force down my throat.
When I became born again I began to see all the things the pharisees in my world were doing as very wrong and not at all biblical. They hated this, they wanted to dominate me into their club of humanistic Christianity, but I wanted the real thing.
You see, no man can teach us better than the Holy Spirit Himself! NO MAN!
Let Them Fight With God
I was actually "accused" once of being simple minded because I couldn't think with my own mind. LOL, LOL!!!! My response was, "why would I want to think with my fallen mind when I could think with the mind of Christ."
Every time a particular arguer would write her own opinion I would respond with a Scripture that refuted what she said. She and another troll would repeat their opinions as though they were fact.
I would come back with only a Scripture to bring clarity. After several times like that I was told that I must be very simple minded that I couldn't think with my own mind.
When we witness this we know there is no rational thinking going on. When someone feels a need to attack our intelligence or integrity to demean, we know they have no answers for God's truths, causing them to resort to personal attacks.
Narcissists know that most people begin to feel defensive and even angry when they are personally attacked. The goal of the narcissist is to cause a blow up in us so they can say, "see how you are, angry and mean spirited." This is a trick often used by those who wish to discredit us. As soon as we blow in anger they count themselves as having won even though they were the provokers.
This is why God tells us how to respond to fools, He says:
Proverbs 26:4-5 "4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.…"
The only answer for the fool is a non-answer, silence to allow them to see only themselves. If you respond in anger the fool sees only our anger and elevates himself in response to it.
We know someone is foolish when they run out of arguments and resort to name calling or lies to make you the villain.
Do not allow these bullies to intimidate or manipulate you into wrong behavior. God is clear that a fool does not deserve a response when they have crossed this line into personal attacks.
When we realize we are in company with those who have a propensity to fight to win rather than discuss to come to the truth, then we know this is an exercise in futility to even engage with them.....ever!! Get away from these people and stay away from them.
Those of us who have had lots of experience with narcissists understand that they will never listen, they don't want to learn anything, they only wish to dominate. They do not hear anything we say, they are like rabid dogs, there is no rational thinking occurring, only snaps and snarls to intimidate.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34 " 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame."
Bullies can make us sin by pushing buttons in us that cause frustration. We must choose to see the truth of what they are doing and refuse to take anything they say or do personally as well as never responding to their nonsense. When I see that someone is baiting me, I never stay in the same room with them again, nor do I go to functions in which these people are elevated by those in the gathering.
Those who enjoy the bullies are enablers, perhaps even enjoying the antics of the bully. These people are also bullies by proxy. They endorse the actions of the bully by their silence. Stay away from these people too.
James 4:17
"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."
Philippians 3:2
"Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh."
Deuteronomy 31:6 "6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Ephesians 6:12 "12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Proverbs 22:10 "10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended."
It is good to remain silent in the face of a mocker and reviler to let God be our defender. We need not see results, we must have faith that God will take care of us.
Psalm 138:7 "7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me."
Every time a particular arguer would write her own opinion I would respond with a Scripture that refuted what she said. She and another troll would repeat their opinions as though they were fact.
I would come back with only a Scripture to bring clarity. After several times like that I was told that I must be very simple minded that I couldn't think with my own mind.
When we witness this we know there is no rational thinking going on. When someone feels a need to attack our intelligence or integrity to demean, we know they have no answers for God's truths, causing them to resort to personal attacks.
Narcissists know that most people begin to feel defensive and even angry when they are personally attacked. The goal of the narcissist is to cause a blow up in us so they can say, "see how you are, angry and mean spirited." This is a trick often used by those who wish to discredit us. As soon as we blow in anger they count themselves as having won even though they were the provokers.
This is why God tells us how to respond to fools, He says:
Proverbs 26:4-5 "4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.…"
The only answer for the fool is a non-answer, silence to allow them to see only themselves. If you respond in anger the fool sees only our anger and elevates himself in response to it.
We know someone is foolish when they run out of arguments and resort to name calling or lies to make you the villain.
Do not allow these bullies to intimidate or manipulate you into wrong behavior. God is clear that a fool does not deserve a response when they have crossed this line into personal attacks.
When we realize we are in company with those who have a propensity to fight to win rather than discuss to come to the truth, then we know this is an exercise in futility to even engage with them.....ever!! Get away from these people and stay away from them.
Those of us who have had lots of experience with narcissists understand that they will never listen, they don't want to learn anything, they only wish to dominate. They do not hear anything we say, they are like rabid dogs, there is no rational thinking occurring, only snaps and snarls to intimidate.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34 " 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame."
Bullies can make us sin by pushing buttons in us that cause frustration. We must choose to see the truth of what they are doing and refuse to take anything they say or do personally as well as never responding to their nonsense. When I see that someone is baiting me, I never stay in the same room with them again, nor do I go to functions in which these people are elevated by those in the gathering.
Those who enjoy the bullies are enablers, perhaps even enjoying the antics of the bully. These people are also bullies by proxy. They endorse the actions of the bully by their silence. Stay away from these people too.
James 4:17
"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."
Philippians 3:2
"Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh."
Deuteronomy 31:6 "6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Ephesians 6:12 "12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Proverbs 22:10 "10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended."
It is good to remain silent in the face of a mocker and reviler to let God be our defender. We need not see results, we must have faith that God will take care of us.
Psalm 138:7 "7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me."
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Scripture Offends the Self Righteous
Its all about Christ, Every Bit of It!
For others who are struggling with the assurance of their salvation but have trusted Christ, I would like to share this answer I sent t someone who needed encouragement.
When I was first born again I too struggled with whether or not I was saved. When I began to realize that Christ paid the price for my sin through the shedding of His own blood and that it was paid in full, the light bulb sort of went on for me.
When we trust Christ and "believe" in Him, then is when He sends His Holy Spirit to live in us. We are not perfect at that time but our spirit has been changed into a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
Over our lifetime God is continually cleansing us as we confess particular sins. The Holy Spirit brings to mind things we were not aware of. When we confess them God will cleanse us, this is called growing in holiness.
1 John 1:9 was written to born again believers.
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Our salvation is not based on anything we do or not do, it is based on Christ having paid the penalty for our sinfulness. Sin is no longer accounted to us, when God looks at us who are born again He does not see our sinfulness He sees Jesus Christ in us.
Romans 4:23-25 "23 Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham, 24 but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited— for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification."
Our "feelings" have nothing to do with our salvation. The devil wants to make us feel unworthy of Gods forgiveness. We are worthy only because of Christ, He is our righteousness we have none of our own. When we realize that then feelings of unworthiness should be counted as nothing!
The more we confess our sins as they are brought to mind the more we grow in holiness. If our focus is on Jesus Christ then it will not be on whether we think we are good enough, we are not, but praise to Him, He is good enough and we have Him living in us as our strength, helper, teacher and everything else.
The more we trust what He did on our behalf the less we worry about "did I do this right", it then becomes about "Christ did it all and I can do anything He desires of me because He is our strength.
If you meet those who say you must be sinless to come to Christ know this, they do not understand salvation. We come to Christ believing on Him, knowing that we have nothing to offer and that He is everything. After we are born again we still have nothing to offer and He is everything. The more we lean on Him in prayer and obey what He tells us the more we grow in holiness and the less we look like the world.
Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
So many people try so hard to walk upright, they need to stop trying so hard, throw away their self striving and trust in Christ. He will work in us as needed. When we fail the Holy Spirit will let us know. We hear the voice of God, not in sounds in our head but in promptings as we are compelled to obey. When we fail to obey He will discipline us, but He will never throw us away for failing.
If you have trusted Christ it would be good to back away from those who will try to convince you that you must measure up to keep your salvation. We cannot measure up only Christ can. Yes, when we become born again we have a changed nature. We hate the sinful things we used to love and we love the things of God that used to make us uncomfortable. This is another way to determine if we were ever changed into a new creation. Has our view of life changed? Do we have a hunger to know God and to learn His Word?
When I became born again I could not get enough of God's Word. I wanted to know all about Him. And, as I matured in my walk I wanted to know His heart, as much as I could soak up.
These are indicators that we have been born again.
Also, there will be self righteous people who will not like the new you. They will want to remember you the way you were instead of acknowledge the new you. It is good to witness Christ to them, but if they persist in attempting to pretend you have never changed, then they must be avoided.
Anyone who is speaking works based salvation, that is that you must do certain things to be saved, these also must be avoided.
The problem with works based salvation is that it places the onus on the person to make themselves saved, diminishing the work of Christ on the cross. When we have faith we know Christ is going to work in us, it will be only His work in us that matters.
Sin will fall off in the beginning and more will fall off over time as a toddler moved from crawling to walking. The more we confess and obey the more we walk and then when we are mature we will be running!!!!!
When I was first born again I too struggled with whether or not I was saved. When I began to realize that Christ paid the price for my sin through the shedding of His own blood and that it was paid in full, the light bulb sort of went on for me.
When we trust Christ and "believe" in Him, then is when He sends His Holy Spirit to live in us. We are not perfect at that time but our spirit has been changed into a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
Over our lifetime God is continually cleansing us as we confess particular sins. The Holy Spirit brings to mind things we were not aware of. When we confess them God will cleanse us, this is called growing in holiness.
1 John 1:9 was written to born again believers.
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Our salvation is not based on anything we do or not do, it is based on Christ having paid the penalty for our sinfulness. Sin is no longer accounted to us, when God looks at us who are born again He does not see our sinfulness He sees Jesus Christ in us.
Romans 4:23-25 "23 Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham, 24 but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited— for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification."
Our "feelings" have nothing to do with our salvation. The devil wants to make us feel unworthy of Gods forgiveness. We are worthy only because of Christ, He is our righteousness we have none of our own. When we realize that then feelings of unworthiness should be counted as nothing!
The more we confess our sins as they are brought to mind the more we grow in holiness. If our focus is on Jesus Christ then it will not be on whether we think we are good enough, we are not, but praise to Him, He is good enough and we have Him living in us as our strength, helper, teacher and everything else.
The more we trust what He did on our behalf the less we worry about "did I do this right", it then becomes about "Christ did it all and I can do anything He desires of me because He is our strength.
If you meet those who say you must be sinless to come to Christ know this, they do not understand salvation. We come to Christ believing on Him, knowing that we have nothing to offer and that He is everything. After we are born again we still have nothing to offer and He is everything. The more we lean on Him in prayer and obey what He tells us the more we grow in holiness and the less we look like the world.
Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
So many people try so hard to walk upright, they need to stop trying so hard, throw away their self striving and trust in Christ. He will work in us as needed. When we fail the Holy Spirit will let us know. We hear the voice of God, not in sounds in our head but in promptings as we are compelled to obey. When we fail to obey He will discipline us, but He will never throw us away for failing.
If you have trusted Christ it would be good to back away from those who will try to convince you that you must measure up to keep your salvation. We cannot measure up only Christ can. Yes, when we become born again we have a changed nature. We hate the sinful things we used to love and we love the things of God that used to make us uncomfortable. This is another way to determine if we were ever changed into a new creation. Has our view of life changed? Do we have a hunger to know God and to learn His Word?
When I became born again I could not get enough of God's Word. I wanted to know all about Him. And, as I matured in my walk I wanted to know His heart, as much as I could soak up.
These are indicators that we have been born again.
Also, there will be self righteous people who will not like the new you. They will want to remember you the way you were instead of acknowledge the new you. It is good to witness Christ to them, but if they persist in attempting to pretend you have never changed, then they must be avoided.
Anyone who is speaking works based salvation, that is that you must do certain things to be saved, these also must be avoided.
The problem with works based salvation is that it places the onus on the person to make themselves saved, diminishing the work of Christ on the cross. When we have faith we know Christ is going to work in us, it will be only His work in us that matters.
Sin will fall off in the beginning and more will fall off over time as a toddler moved from crawling to walking. The more we confess and obey the more we walk and then when we are mature we will be running!!!!!
The Second Timothy Three Generation
The most difficult things to deal with in this generation of narcissism: The Second Timothy Three Generation!
Know-it-alls
Ultra Sensitive to correction, criticism or instruction
Lack of Manners and even embarrassment at displays of
manners
Lack of Natural Affection
Its hard work to resist becoming like the narcissist because our inner man is fleshly, reacting to things that come against us. It takes prayer and resolve to refuse to respond in kind to those who wish to cause the worst in you to emerge.
The more time we spend with someone or something (television and movies) or (unsaved family), the more we begin to see their actions and attitudes as normal.
It validates the rage in the narcissist when they can get us to respond to their attacks. This is why God said to return good for evil. This does not mean that we seek out the narcissists to do good to them, it means that when we encounter them we refuse to respond and return a nasty comment with a kind response or none at all. We know that any response to a full blown narcissist is food for them, even a kind one. This is why in most cases its best to completely ignore their attacks and remove ourselves without emotion.
The more we are with nastiness the more it begins to seem normal. Its sort of like taking that first spoonful of something we don't like but over time its not so bad anymore, we may even begin to like it proud of ourselves that we mastered it.
We can remain with a narcissistic friend and over time become like them, or we can choose to remove ourselves to protect our character. As believer we want to grow holier not superior. We want to become like Christ in His power, not pretending to be like Him in our own effort.
1 Corinthians 15:33
"33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Never feel guilty about withdrawing from someone who is continually pushing your buttons to cause an argument. They are wicked and deserve no attention at all. Of course they will attempt to accuse you of something bad, ignore it, its nothing more than manipulation to get you back under their power.
Remaining calm and repeating your boundary without explanation is often the best way to respond to those who would try to intimidate.
Know-it-alls
Ultra Sensitive to correction, criticism or instruction
Lack of Manners and even embarrassment at displays of
manners
Lack of Natural Affection
Its hard work to resist becoming like the narcissist because our inner man is fleshly, reacting to things that come against us. It takes prayer and resolve to refuse to respond in kind to those who wish to cause the worst in you to emerge.
The more time we spend with someone or something (television and movies) or (unsaved family), the more we begin to see their actions and attitudes as normal.
It validates the rage in the narcissist when they can get us to respond to their attacks. This is why God said to return good for evil. This does not mean that we seek out the narcissists to do good to them, it means that when we encounter them we refuse to respond and return a nasty comment with a kind response or none at all. We know that any response to a full blown narcissist is food for them, even a kind one. This is why in most cases its best to completely ignore their attacks and remove ourselves without emotion.
The more we are with nastiness the more it begins to seem normal. Its sort of like taking that first spoonful of something we don't like but over time its not so bad anymore, we may even begin to like it proud of ourselves that we mastered it.
We can remain with a narcissistic friend and over time become like them, or we can choose to remove ourselves to protect our character. As believer we want to grow holier not superior. We want to become like Christ in His power, not pretending to be like Him in our own effort.
1 Corinthians 15:33
"33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Never feel guilty about withdrawing from someone who is continually pushing your buttons to cause an argument. They are wicked and deserve no attention at all. Of course they will attempt to accuse you of something bad, ignore it, its nothing more than manipulation to get you back under their power.
Remaining calm and repeating your boundary without explanation is often the best way to respond to those who would try to intimidate.
Are You Working Your Way? Or Are You Trusting Christ?
No one can lose their salvation. When God makes us into a new creation we are no longer the old.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
No one wins or loses salvation based on works.
God disciplines those He loves, He does not toss them away for not being good enough, no one is good enough ever.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not 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?…"
Hebrews 13:5 "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,”
Those who believe one's salvation is based on their performance do not understand that we are Christ's workmanship. When we trust Christ He does all the work in us.
Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
We do not do works to become saved or to stay saved, we do them because the Holy Spirit in us compels us. We love to obey Him but sometimes we are weak children, that's why God told believers :
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."
Romans 7 explains these principles very well. Our bodies do not go to heaven when we die because they are sinful, but our Spirit goes there. Sin cannot go into the presence of God, so at the resurrection our bodies will be changed from corruptible to incorruptible to be able to go into the presence of God.
There are no sinless people who are born again, but when we sin we will be disciplined to return to obedience. Those who will not obey will lose rewards in heaven.
1 Corinthians 3:14-16 "…14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…"
Those who are interpreting the Bible to believe they can lose their salvation are observing horizontally rather than virtically, they are basing their beliefs on what they see around them rather than God's Word.
There are people who do walk away, but they were never born again.
1 John 2:19-23
19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.
21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also."
Many people will claim to be "Christians" but were never born again. They Lord says this about these people:
"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.’"
I count this passage in Matthew as the most frightening verse in the Bible, those who are expecting to get into heaven will be turned away at the gate because they were pretenders, learning all the right words, acting all the right ways but never were born again. In their minds they were trusting their own goodness and works to get them in, Christ was a means to an end, not the love of their life.
Have you ever experienced a friendship in which the only reason the person was friendly to you was because they wanted something out of you. This is what works salvation entails. Those who do good things for self glory and the perks they think they can get out of God. They want safety, material wealth, praise from others, but they do not want Christ.
Matthew 15:7-9 …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.’”…
We know from the Bible that there will be more pretenders in the last days than there will be authentically born again believers. The authentic believers are coming out of the modern churches, resistant to foolishness and hypocrisy, desiring the pure Word of God untainted by the world.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
No one wins or loses salvation based on works.
God disciplines those He loves, He does not toss them away for not being good enough, no one is good enough ever.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not 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?…"
Hebrews 13:5 "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,”
Those who believe one's salvation is based on their performance do not understand that we are Christ's workmanship. When we trust Christ He does all the work in us.
Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
We do not do works to become saved or to stay saved, we do them because the Holy Spirit in us compels us. We love to obey Him but sometimes we are weak children, that's why God told believers :
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."
Romans 7 explains these principles very well. Our bodies do not go to heaven when we die because they are sinful, but our Spirit goes there. Sin cannot go into the presence of God, so at the resurrection our bodies will be changed from corruptible to incorruptible to be able to go into the presence of God.
There are no sinless people who are born again, but when we sin we will be disciplined to return to obedience. Those who will not obey will lose rewards in heaven.
1 Corinthians 3:14-16 "…14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…"
Those who are interpreting the Bible to believe they can lose their salvation are observing horizontally rather than virtically, they are basing their beliefs on what they see around them rather than God's Word.
There are people who do walk away, but they were never born again.
1 John 2:19-23
19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.
21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also."
Many people will claim to be "Christians" but were never born again. They Lord says this about these people:
"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.’"
I count this passage in Matthew as the most frightening verse in the Bible, those who are expecting to get into heaven will be turned away at the gate because they were pretenders, learning all the right words, acting all the right ways but never were born again. In their minds they were trusting their own goodness and works to get them in, Christ was a means to an end, not the love of their life.
Have you ever experienced a friendship in which the only reason the person was friendly to you was because they wanted something out of you. This is what works salvation entails. Those who do good things for self glory and the perks they think they can get out of God. They want safety, material wealth, praise from others, but they do not want Christ.
Matthew 15:7-9 …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.’”…
We know from the Bible that there will be more pretenders in the last days than there will be authentically born again believers. The authentic believers are coming out of the modern churches, resistant to foolishness and hypocrisy, desiring the pure Word of God untainted by the world.
Monday, February 18, 2019
Keep Your Eyes on the Cross of Christ
Nick Bevilacqua
"Keeping one's heart and mind on the cross will keep one from trusting in one's works for Salvation, and will make one want to live for Christ our Savior.(Galatians 2: 20 & 21). (2 Corinthians 5: 14). (1 John 4: 19)."
Galatians 2:20-21
"20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose."
2 Corinthians 5:14
"14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;"
1 John 4:19
"19 We love because he first loved us."
"Keeping one's heart and mind on the cross will keep one from trusting in one's works for Salvation, and will make one want to live for Christ our Savior.(Galatians 2: 20 & 21). (2 Corinthians 5: 14). (1 John 4: 19)."
Galatians 2:20-21
"20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose."
2 Corinthians 5:14
"14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;"
1 John 4:19
"19 We love because he first loved us."
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