The Age of Deceit - Part 2 - Ron Matsen

The greatest lies the devil tells is that "God didn't really say that." He puts wrong beliefs in the minds of many people who end up teaching the opposite of what God said and claiming it came from God.

When we attempt to bring truth to "Christians' who have heard the wrong teaching they become angry because they like the version the devil gave them. We see this with the twisted view of forgiveness the psychologists have taught for 50 years. We see this in the twisted view of divorce and remarriage that has been taught also as long. We see this in the very structure of the church that defies God's order in favor of human concoctions of hierarchy that God never gave.

There are many violations of the Bible in most church gatherings today and virtually no on in them who will be able to see the truth because the error is so widespread and seems to be working for them. We live in a culture that thinks as long as it works it doesn't matter if God likes it or not. The apostate condition of the church in these end times leaves the people in the pews beggarly and rebellious thinking they are righteous.

The Way We Think

The WAY we think determines the WAY we act. We cannot think differently from the things that we do.

Philippians 2:5 "Philippians 2:5-" Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,"

1 John 1:6-7 " 6 If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.…"

Those who defend their sin, refuse to correct their bad behavior and disrespectful words cannot be born again. The Holy Spirit would make their sin known to them to cause shame. Those who rage to defend sin are not born again no matter what they say.

Matthew 7:16-20 "16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."

God told us the character qualities of the born-again believer. He showed us through our own born-again experience what an authentic born-again believer looks like.

We must stop giving people excuses for unrepentant sin by saying "no one knows the heart but God", this is true and yet He imparted to us through the Holy Spirit the mind of Christ to be able to discern those who belong to Christ and those who do not.

We cannot know who is going to heaven or hell because we do not know the future, but we can warn people to repent that if they died in the rebellion against Christ they will go to hell.

Warnings are good, they are loving and kind. What is not loving and kind is to watch someone ruin their life and their eternity because of their rebellion and not warn them.

Jude 1:22-24 "…22 And indeed, have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh. 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—"

The Competitive Cook!

The tactics of a narcissist can be very subtle, even causing guilt in us when the guilt should really be on them. Here is a little story that demonstrates this principle.

I knew of a woman who would leave out an ingredient when someone would ask her for the recipe for her special dish.

When anyone would ask for the recipe from something she made this woman would leave out one ingredient so that no one else would be able to make the dish as well as she had made it. She did this openly, even telling people she did this.

This same woman would ask for someone else's recipe and make sure they did not leave out an ingredient. She expected others to give her what she would not give them, the entire recipe so that everyone could enjoy making a special dish.

Leaving out a piece of a recipe is a small matter we can all laugh off, perhaps even replacing the missing ingredient with something else, its really not very important to us. However, the fact that someone feels a need to leave out an ingredient does demonstrate a character flaw in those who are worried about being special and superior.

Normal secure people when asked for a recipe would be flattered and happy to make sure the one receiving the recipe would know exactly how it was made so her product could turn out as good as she thought her friends was. The purpose of giving the recipe was so that her friend could enjoy the dish at home the same way she enjoyed it at her friends home.

Sadly, the narcissist wants to make sure no one can do something as well or better than they can. If they cannot be superior they feel inferior.

When a believer is secure within themselves without competition toward others they are free to share anything they have without worry about someone else matching pitch with them or even excelling over them.

When we love someone we want them to succeed in all that they do. We have no concern that they may surpass us in a skill or accomplishment, we are happy for them when they have achieved something that brings them joy. We are even secure enough to say to our friend, "you are better at this than I was", with a sense of glee.

The born-again believer has great joy when others succeed, even relishing the accomplishment with those they love.

Colossians 3:12-14

12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. 14 In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity."

What a blessed day it will be when we are all at the marriage supper of the Lamb enjoying one another without jealousy and competitiveness. Only pure love and encouragement will be at this special feast.

Proverbs 18:24

"24 A person of too many friends comes to [a]ruin,

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

The one who enjoys your accomplishments is rare indeed, he/she is the one who will stick by you in thick and thin. Hallelujah!

Want God to Cleanse You? Confess!

Amen! In order to be cleansed by God, we must confess our sins as believers and our overall sinfulness for unbelievers to become born again.

God will not save anyone who refuses to admit they need saving and cleansing. He will also not help a born-again believer overcome the consequences of their individual sins if they will not confess them. God brings consequences to His children to train them to desire His cleansing.

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."

No one will be forgiven who will not confess.

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?…"

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 every son He receives.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"

Escaping of Group Think

When you have a friend who continues to treat you disrespectfully regularly then it is time to remove yourself from them and put your energies into those who do not act this way. We can respectfully move on without challenging them anymore and without demanding that they make a change. It must be the Holy Spirit Who moves them to realize their sin. Only through confession of that sin is there a possibility of reconciliation in any relationship. Without confession and a desire to act better, there can be no reconciliation.

We cannot change another person to act in a Christlike way, we can only express ourselves to them, when they become angry or mean-spirited because we have told them our concerns then is the time to move on and pray for the Holy Spirit to reach their heart. Ezekiel 11:19

Often kind-hearted people remain in impossible relationships hoping that our kindness toward them will soften their hearts and things will get better. However, we are not only unable to change a person's heart we are not responsible to do so. God can work on others without us and perhaps better because there is history and old baggage that must be removed before eyes will be opened.

It is actually pride that makes us think we are the only ones who can work change in someone. We think we are doing something wrong by walking away from those we love, when in fact it may be the most loving thing we can do for change to occur in us as well as them.

Isaiah 26:9-11 "…9 My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. 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. 11 O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!…"

Many of the people we encounter today have only one thing in mind, that is to control you. They cannot be happy loving who you are, they must change you to be like them. This used to be called "peer pressure", now I think more accurately it is "cultural mobbings", in which the one who does not do and say everything the culture does and says will be mocked, excluded and intimidated until they give up themselves to become the mob.

If you have to set aside who you are to satisfy the mob the mob is not your friend, they are your enemy. Friends appreciate us for who we are, for who God made us.

Life is full of diversity of thought and creativity, there are many ways to do a thing right and with integrity. Usually, the ones who have only one way to act are those who lack integrity because they are not thinking for themselves, they are invested in "group think" in which the group tells them what to believe and what to do, even how to act. These people always have formulas and most often not in alignment with the Scriptures.

Our God is the God of infinite possibilities within His principles. He affords great freedom to those who are dedicated to hearing His voice.

John 10:27-28

"27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:"

There is wonderful freedom within the principles of God's Holy Word. Never freedom to sin but freedom to express ourselves within our personalities as led by the Holy Spirit. Those who claim they don't have to follow the Bible are very limited in their choices as dictated by the "group", who determines the very personalities of those within that group. These people lack personality as well as creativity because of the limitations of the culture in which they are confined.

When we follow Christ we are not limited to the culture around us, we can step out of that culture and hear from Christ as we live out our lives of adventure with great joy. Even though our teaching trials we have this inner joy, knowing that everything God brings to us is for our learning and strengthening.

Those who are controlled and manipulated by "the group think" will never grow to their full potential. They are being held back, diminished, and beggarly for their addiction to being accepted by "the group."

The life of a born-again believer's life which is indwelt by the Holy Spirit is an adventurous and rewarding life, not only here but even into the next life as we delight in the great expectancy of the life after our death.

John 10:27-29 27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.…"

Never be jealous of the life of those who are well-liked by the world and their groups. They have nothing you want. The group wants to keep you in bondage to them, taking away your freedom as you adhere to their desires for you.

Galatians 4:16-17 "…16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. "

Hallelujah!!!!

Removing Ourselves Brings Great Blessing!

When you have removed yourself from the narcissist he/she will make up lies about you to control how others see you. Remove the listeners to the narcissist too.

Those who love the gossip and the lies are not interested in hearing your side but love the lies more than they love the truth. These people must be removed, they will always believe the first thing they heard without evidence, only the word of the narcissist is believed to maintain that friendship.

Truth is not important to narcissists and those who love the gossip coming from the narcissist are themselves wicked. Those who love lies, love gossip, and love a juicy story always enjoy them without any evidence as long as they desire to believe their friend.

Ephesians 4:29

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

Never mourn the loss of a narcissist from your life. You have not lost anything but have rather gained peace and joy that the narcissist attempts to remove from you.

Proverbs 6:16-19

"There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers."

James 1:26

"If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless."

Proverbs 20:19

"Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler."

God will not tolerate the lies of gossips. He will one day destroy those who love their false ways.

Psalm 101:5

"Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure."

Proverbs 26:20

"For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases."

When we remove from our lives the narcissist and their friends who listen to them we will see an increase in love, peace, kindness, and a loss of quarreling, intimidation, mocking, and false judgment.

Losing these things is a great blessing.

Comments

The Perspectives of the Christian

I was impressed with this person's perspective of how Christians are acting in politics. She made this comment on Dr. Michael Brown's video about praying for our current president. I am also appalled at the anger shown by many people who claim to be Christians. The following quote is from a person I feel has good insight into the truth about what our attitudes should be concerning politics and the unsaved. Here is that quote!

Weather Moon

"I was searching for videos on "christians blessing their enemies" and I had an Epiphany of sorts- a specific one that reoccurs periodically albeit it seems new every time:

Christ blessed His enemies.

He died for His enemies.

We were His enemies.

If He blessed us, how can we Christians refuse to bless the very same people He blessed

by dying for them- the world? Dying for us? Dying for you? Dying for me?

Why do we Christians revert to David when we want to excuse sin of others (we like), or ignore the red-letter words of Christ? (Who IS the very IMAGE of our Father, meaning in character and in practice, thought, word, and Deed).

We have LOST the fear of God when it comes to seeing the evil within ourselves, but boy howdy, we'll call the fear of God on "others", and LIKE it."