When we live to please Christ within ourselves, it shines the light on the evil deeds of those around us. They want to live in secrecy and darkness, so they get angry when the light exposes them.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
A Fool Delights in Lies
John Edwards once said this:
"The problem with nostalgia is what we tend to do is only remember what you liked and you forget the parts you didn't like."
Mr. Edwards got it partially right, often children forget what their parents did that was good and a blessing, while remembering what they didn't like. However the things they didn't like were not based on knowledge or wisdom, but rather on their childish desires and a rebellious nature along with only scanty partial knowledge of circumstances.
They like to say, "you ALWAYS did this or that", when that event happened once or twice in 18 years. Children have selective memories especially when they are in revolt against authority.
It is human nature to interpret information of the past based on how we felt rather than the all the details of the event. There is even a propensity to interpret things in terms of our personal feelings about what happened rather than the actual events themselves.
Another interesting phenomena is the inclination to remember things based on how we would act, thinking that everyone else acts that way too. A narcissist believes everyone is lying because he/she lies. A narcissist accuses others of affairs because the narcissist fantasizes about affairs. A narcissist will accuse us of the very things they are doing or would like to do, because they believe everyone else does or thinks the same way they do. One of the biggest "tells" of the narcissist is what he/she accuses others of doing or being.
Memories are faulty at best, often being evaluated on an impressions and assumptions rather than accurate factual information.
When there is resistance to hearing from those who have been wrongly evaluated, there is a deliberate desire to believe falsehood. When we love truth, we seek to discover the reasons for actions, the reasons for expressions rather than jump at the inclination toward our own feelings.
The saddest of all situations is when false memories drive someone to turn others against those whom they have judged.
Not only does the narcissist contrive their own interpretation of events, they must work to cause others to reject their target. Because their motives are not pure and honest, there is the need in themselves to gather groups of people on their team of haters.
The narcissist is never satisfied with hating all by themselves, they must gain the praise and empathy of others toward their deceptive and fictitious cause of self exaltation. Only through the ability to ruin the one for whom they have the greatest contempt will they be satisfied.
Proverbs 18:2-4 "…2 A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind. 3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes, And with dishonor comes scorn. 4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.…"
One of the clues of the unrepentant contemptuous heart is the love of gossip and the lack of interest in finding the truth.
2 Timothy 3 describes these types and instructs us what to do about them. When we have to encounter them, then we act with the mind of Christ, depending on Him to work in us, on our behalf, until we can escape them, as is commanded in verse 5 of this passage.
2 Timothy 3:5 "5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!"
Matthew 7:6
"Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."
Proverbs 23:22
"Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old."
When we see the Scripture being violated on a regular basis with frequency and contempt, then we are to remove ourselves until Christ tells us when to resume again with someone like this. We may find ourselves never returning to the company of these people. As long as they remain in rebellion against God, working nothing but trouble because of that rebellion, then we must obey God and stay away.
The phrase, "from such turn away", is not a suggestion but a command. We bring unnecessary trials on ourselves by disobeying this mandate of God, even perhaps thwarting the lesson God has for them by remaining. If these people are to come into our lives again, that is God's business, in the mean time we need to be very discerning through the Holy Spirit.
2 Chronicles 36:16
"but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, until there was no remedy."
We must ask ourselves the question; "DO I LOVE CHRIST MORE THAN ANY OTHER PERSON." If we find ourselves compromising the principles of God because of another human being, then we must repent and start again to trust Christ alone.
We must love people God's way, if we do that then Christ will always come before any other relationship. If the relationship cannot last because of Christ, then we choose Christ over that relationship.
2 Peter 3:3
"Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,"
2 Peter 2:10
"and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,"
There are those that we cannot get away from, an employer or co-workers, a spouse or children still living in the home, but we can continue to act the way the Holy Spirit leads in spite of their presence, while allowing their tantrums to roll off our backs the way water rolls off of a ducks back. It is possible to live like this until Christ removes us or them and do it with great joy and freedom in the Spirit.
People, no matter how much we love them must never be our idols.
"The problem with nostalgia is what we tend to do is only remember what you liked and you forget the parts you didn't like."
Mr. Edwards got it partially right, often children forget what their parents did that was good and a blessing, while remembering what they didn't like. However the things they didn't like were not based on knowledge or wisdom, but rather on their childish desires and a rebellious nature along with only scanty partial knowledge of circumstances.
They like to say, "you ALWAYS did this or that", when that event happened once or twice in 18 years. Children have selective memories especially when they are in revolt against authority.
It is human nature to interpret information of the past based on how we felt rather than the all the details of the event. There is even a propensity to interpret things in terms of our personal feelings about what happened rather than the actual events themselves.
Another interesting phenomena is the inclination to remember things based on how we would act, thinking that everyone else acts that way too. A narcissist believes everyone is lying because he/she lies. A narcissist accuses others of affairs because the narcissist fantasizes about affairs. A narcissist will accuse us of the very things they are doing or would like to do, because they believe everyone else does or thinks the same way they do. One of the biggest "tells" of the narcissist is what he/she accuses others of doing or being.
Memories are faulty at best, often being evaluated on an impressions and assumptions rather than accurate factual information.
When there is resistance to hearing from those who have been wrongly evaluated, there is a deliberate desire to believe falsehood. When we love truth, we seek to discover the reasons for actions, the reasons for expressions rather than jump at the inclination toward our own feelings.
The saddest of all situations is when false memories drive someone to turn others against those whom they have judged.
Not only does the narcissist contrive their own interpretation of events, they must work to cause others to reject their target. Because their motives are not pure and honest, there is the need in themselves to gather groups of people on their team of haters.
The narcissist is never satisfied with hating all by themselves, they must gain the praise and empathy of others toward their deceptive and fictitious cause of self exaltation. Only through the ability to ruin the one for whom they have the greatest contempt will they be satisfied.
Proverbs 18:2-4 "…2 A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind. 3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes, And with dishonor comes scorn. 4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.…"
One of the clues of the unrepentant contemptuous heart is the love of gossip and the lack of interest in finding the truth.
2 Timothy 3 describes these types and instructs us what to do about them. When we have to encounter them, then we act with the mind of Christ, depending on Him to work in us, on our behalf, until we can escape them, as is commanded in verse 5 of this passage.
2 Timothy 3:5 "5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!"
Matthew 7:6
"Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."
Proverbs 23:22
"Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old."
When we see the Scripture being violated on a regular basis with frequency and contempt, then we are to remove ourselves until Christ tells us when to resume again with someone like this. We may find ourselves never returning to the company of these people. As long as they remain in rebellion against God, working nothing but trouble because of that rebellion, then we must obey God and stay away.
The phrase, "from such turn away", is not a suggestion but a command. We bring unnecessary trials on ourselves by disobeying this mandate of God, even perhaps thwarting the lesson God has for them by remaining. If these people are to come into our lives again, that is God's business, in the mean time we need to be very discerning through the Holy Spirit.
2 Chronicles 36:16
"but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, until there was no remedy."
We must ask ourselves the question; "DO I LOVE CHRIST MORE THAN ANY OTHER PERSON." If we find ourselves compromising the principles of God because of another human being, then we must repent and start again to trust Christ alone.
We must love people God's way, if we do that then Christ will always come before any other relationship. If the relationship cannot last because of Christ, then we choose Christ over that relationship.
2 Peter 3:3
"Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,"
2 Peter 2:10
"and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,"
There are those that we cannot get away from, an employer or co-workers, a spouse or children still living in the home, but we can continue to act the way the Holy Spirit leads in spite of their presence, while allowing their tantrums to roll off our backs the way water rolls off of a ducks back. It is possible to live like this until Christ removes us or them and do it with great joy and freedom in the Spirit.
People, no matter how much we love them must never be our idols.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
The Narcissist Pretends a Lot
Proverbs 26:24-28
"Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin."
"Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin."
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Count it all Joy
COUNT IT ALL AS "JOY" MY BROTHERS + SISTERS IN CHRIST!
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Luke 6:22 KJV
Christ Keeps Us Forever
I am so very sad at having to delete and block those who come here to fight and argue defending the false doctrine of a believer losing their salvation.
I have friends who believe this, but I cannot allow someone to come here and adamantly argue that salvation is by works either to gain it or to keep it.
IT IS A FALSE DOCTRINE to say that one can lose the salvation that required only faith in Christ to gain it, while also requiring our Savior to bleed out on a cruel cross in payment for that salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9 "8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast.…"
Not only do we have people preaching this false doctrine we also have them claiming that a particular sin will take away that salvation.
God hates sin, we should seek the Holy Spirit to be cleansed of sin in our lives, but we cannot claim that the lack of sin gains us salvation.
Hebrews 10:39
"But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul."
"But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul."
Luke 7:50
"And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
"And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
John 3:15
"so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life."
"so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life."
John 5:24
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."
John 6:40
"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."
"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."
John 1:12
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,"
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,"
How do we become born again, we confess our sinfulness, and trust what Christ did on the cross for us, He paid the debt we owed. Then He will come into us, cleansing us from the moment of salvation until the day we die.
If we sin He will discipline us!
Proverbs 3:11-13 "…11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, 12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. 13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding.…"
Hebrews 12:7-9 "…7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?…"
Ignore Feelings and Trust Christ
Amen, Amen!!! One thing that the Lord has been showing me over the years is that our flesh has feelings that are not accurate. It is important to ignore our feelings and go with God's truth! When we go with God's truth, the feelings pass but the actions and reactions leave no residue of regret but only a sense of victory for having come through the trial unscathed.
Don't try to get through to the unrelenting narcissist, just carry on in Christ confident that He will fight for us.
Rule in the Midst of Your Enemies! - Francis Frangipane
True peace is the fruit of being confident in God’s love; it is born of the revelation that, regardless of the battle, "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). You are not self-assured, you are God-assured.
The God of Peace Will Crush Satan
To wage effective spiritual warfare, we must understand and use spiritual authority. Spiritual authority, however, is not forcing your will upon another person. When you have spiritual authority, you have established God’s peace in an area that once was full of conflict and oppression. Therefore, to truly be able to move in authority, we must first have peace.
The apostle Paul taught, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet" (Rom. 16:20). When we maintain peace during warfare, it is a crushing deathblow to satanic oppression and fear. Our victory never comes from our emotions or our intellect. Our victory comes by refusing to judge by what our eyes see or our ears hear and by trusting that what God has promised will come to pass.
We will never know Christ’s victory in its fullness until we stop reacting humanly to our circumstances. When you truly have authority over something you can look at that thing without worry, fear or intimidation. Your peace is the proof of your victory. Jesus’ authority over the violent storm (Matt. 8:23-27) was the exercise and expansion of His peace over the elements. He did not fight against the storm nor did He fear it. In perfect peace, He faced its fury and subdued it with His authority. In Pilate’s court, in a world stirred to an emotional frenzy by the powers of hell, a holy tranquility surrounded Christ -- peace that was born out of His resolve to do God’s will no matter what the cost. His Spirit emanated a calm that perfectly represented the peace at God’s throne. In a matter of moments it was no longer Jesus who was on trial but Satan, Pilate and the religious establishment in Israel.
Satan’s arsenal consists of such things as fear, worry, doubt and self-pity. Every one of these weapons robs us of peace and leaves us troubled inside. Do you want to discern where the enemy is coming against you? In the network of your relationships, wherever you do not have peace, you have war. Conversely, wherever you have peace, you have victory. When Satan hurls his darts against you, the more peace you have during adversity, the more truly you are walking in Christ’s victory.
Paul tells us to be "in no way alarmed by your opponents -- which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you" (Phil. 1:28). Your peace, your immovable stand upon the Word of God is a sign that you are positioned correctly in focused submission to the will of God. The very fact that you are "in no way alarmed" by your adversary is a sign that you have authority over him.
Peacemakers Are Sons of God
Peace is Spirit power. Peace is an attribute of the Holy Spirit, and when you are walking in peace, you are walking in power. A peacemaker is not merely someone who protests against war; he is one who is inwardly so yielded to Christ in spirit and purpose that he can be called a son of God (Matt. 5:9). Where he goes, God goes and where God goes, he goes. He is fearless, calm and bold. Peace emanates from him the way light and heat radiate from fire.
In the battles of life, your peace is actually a weapon. Indeed, your confidence declares that you are not falling for the lies of the devil. You see, the first step toward having spiritual authority over the adversary is having peace in spite of our circumstances. When Jesus confronted the devil, He did not confront Satan with His emotions or in fear. Knowing that the devil was a liar, He simply refused to be influenced by any other voice than God’s. His peace overwhelmed Satan. His authority then shattered the lie, which sent demons fleeing.
Don't try to get through to the unrelenting narcissist, just carry on in Christ confident that He will fight for us.
Rule in the Midst of Your Enemies! - Francis Frangipane
True peace is the fruit of being confident in God’s love; it is born of the revelation that, regardless of the battle, "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). You are not self-assured, you are God-assured.
The God of Peace Will Crush Satan
To wage effective spiritual warfare, we must understand and use spiritual authority. Spiritual authority, however, is not forcing your will upon another person. When you have spiritual authority, you have established God’s peace in an area that once was full of conflict and oppression. Therefore, to truly be able to move in authority, we must first have peace.
The apostle Paul taught, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet" (Rom. 16:20). When we maintain peace during warfare, it is a crushing deathblow to satanic oppression and fear. Our victory never comes from our emotions or our intellect. Our victory comes by refusing to judge by what our eyes see or our ears hear and by trusting that what God has promised will come to pass.
We will never know Christ’s victory in its fullness until we stop reacting humanly to our circumstances. When you truly have authority over something you can look at that thing without worry, fear or intimidation. Your peace is the proof of your victory. Jesus’ authority over the violent storm (Matt. 8:23-27) was the exercise and expansion of His peace over the elements. He did not fight against the storm nor did He fear it. In perfect peace, He faced its fury and subdued it with His authority. In Pilate’s court, in a world stirred to an emotional frenzy by the powers of hell, a holy tranquility surrounded Christ -- peace that was born out of His resolve to do God’s will no matter what the cost. His Spirit emanated a calm that perfectly represented the peace at God’s throne. In a matter of moments it was no longer Jesus who was on trial but Satan, Pilate and the religious establishment in Israel.
Satan’s arsenal consists of such things as fear, worry, doubt and self-pity. Every one of these weapons robs us of peace and leaves us troubled inside. Do you want to discern where the enemy is coming against you? In the network of your relationships, wherever you do not have peace, you have war. Conversely, wherever you have peace, you have victory. When Satan hurls his darts against you, the more peace you have during adversity, the more truly you are walking in Christ’s victory.
Paul tells us to be "in no way alarmed by your opponents -- which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you" (Phil. 1:28). Your peace, your immovable stand upon the Word of God is a sign that you are positioned correctly in focused submission to the will of God. The very fact that you are "in no way alarmed" by your adversary is a sign that you have authority over him.
Peacemakers Are Sons of God
Peace is Spirit power. Peace is an attribute of the Holy Spirit, and when you are walking in peace, you are walking in power. A peacemaker is not merely someone who protests against war; he is one who is inwardly so yielded to Christ in spirit and purpose that he can be called a son of God (Matt. 5:9). Where he goes, God goes and where God goes, he goes. He is fearless, calm and bold. Peace emanates from him the way light and heat radiate from fire.
In the battles of life, your peace is actually a weapon. Indeed, your confidence declares that you are not falling for the lies of the devil. You see, the first step toward having spiritual authority over the adversary is having peace in spite of our circumstances. When Jesus confronted the devil, He did not confront Satan with His emotions or in fear. Knowing that the devil was a liar, He simply refused to be influenced by any other voice than God’s. His peace overwhelmed Satan. His authority then shattered the lie, which sent demons fleeing.
Friday, August 5, 2016
No Need to Know the Future
If there is any future telling from someone who claims to be a Christian, declaring to have a word for me about my future, I immediately dismiss it.If Christ wants me to know something He tells me and He never tells me what is happening next, because I walk by faith not by sight.
Far too many people who claim to be Christians are pridefully walking about claiming to know what God has for others.
A true brother or sister in Christ will direct us to the Holy Spirit, not encouraging us to look to them.
Far too many people who claim to be Christians are pridefully walking about claiming to know what God has for others.
A true brother or sister in Christ will direct us to the Holy Spirit, not encouraging us to look to them.
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