Satan Is Using Someone for Evil in Your Life If . . .

When Peter Began to Fall into the Water

When did Peter begin to fall into the water when Christ gave him the ability to walk on top of it? When he took his eyes off of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 14:28-33

"28 Peter responded and said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

29 And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.

30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.

33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are truly God’s Son!”"

It was when Peter focused on the storm, taking his eyes of of Jesus Christ that he began to fall.

This is a picture of what we are seeing happen to Christians today as they focus on the world and all of its problems that they begin to sink into despair and sadness. Their joy has left them, as they keep their eyes on the world around them rather than on Christ and His mission for them on earth.

Many are losing sight of our calling while we are on this earth. It is not to save a country or make the world a better place. Our mission is to bring Christ to the lost and encourage the brethren to keep looking up, eyes transfixed on Christ.

Matthew 6:22

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,"

Isaiah 26:3

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

Psalm 101:3

"I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me."

Proverbs 3:5

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."

We cannot impart hope to a lost world when we are in despair about the world around us. We cannot bring comfort to those who are hopeless when we are wallowing in the filth of this world.

2 Corinthians 4:18

"As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

1 John 2:16

"For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world."

Psalm 16:8

"I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken."

Colossians 3:1

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God."

Luke 11:33-36

“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

Proverbs 21:2

"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart."

Proverbs 4:25

"Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you."

Psalm 51:10

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

A clean heart comes from reading His Word and praying for change in us. We cannot have a clean heart when we are resisting His principles.

A Spiritual Battle

Resisting Fear and Embracing Lessons

I have noticed that the "COVID" problem has caused a lot of fighting and depression in our culture and sadly even among believers. Those who walk in fear often react to the trials with anger not realizing everything has a purpose, even the things that are uncomfortable.

Could it be that God wanted us to see what was really on the inside of us?

What we do when we are pressed against the wall with difficulties reveals who we are on the inside that was unseen by others and denied by us.

Christ gives us difficulties to show us what is in need of change or possibly the level of our strength.

James 1:2-8

Profiting from Trials

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

Trials that come are not to be feared, but to be embraced for the knowledge and strength to be gained from addressing them as lessons from God.

When we do not walk in fear we can move forward in wisdom, even delighting in those lessons as another growth spurt.

It is not possible to become wiser without trials. Nor is it possible to grow if we seek to bail out of God-ordained trials.

Romans 5:1-5 "5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

When we see our tribulations as stepping stones to amazing lessons from God, we do not have to be devastated by them, rather they can lead us to greater wisdom and strength.

Hallelujah!!!!

Have I Become Your Enemy?

If you dare to disagree with a narcissist you automatically become their enemy. If narcissism comes in the form of a cult there will be intense pressure placed on those who choose to think for themselves. There will be a sort of "group think" in which those who do not comply to the group will be treated as an outsider and with contempt.

Even though the target of narcissism does not nag or use demeaning language to disagree with the narcissist they will be accused of it anyway. Often the narcissist accuses their target of the things the narcissist is doing and their targets are not doing.

Galatians 4:16-17 "…15 What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 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."

How quickly the narcissist goes from "love bombing" to "discard" merely because you have begun evaluating everything and expressing concerns.

We can usually see whether a friendship was an authentic one or manipulation to gain followers. The authentic friendship listens to us, allows us to have our own opinions, and even supports what we have decided for ourselves.

The inauthentic relationship only treats us respectfully and with love if we are agreeing with them. The minute we have expressed a difference we have become the enemy as God spoke of in Galatians. The narcissist is not capable of love, they only have the pretense of love that goes away at the slightest perceived provocation. A perceived provocation is what they believe is a personal attack on them if we do not fall in line with them.

I know this can hurt, but count it joy when you have discovered the nature of your friendship. We do not want friendships that are based on walking on eggshells or becoming like someone else merely to be treated well by them.

There are people who will treat us respectfully and with kindness no matter our disagreements. No one can maintain a friendship with someone who continually treats us with disrespect, merely because we do not think the same way they think.

As born-again believers we desire friendships that have the mind of Christ. Everything they think and do is based on the Word of God. This does not mean everyone is perfect or thinks the way they should, however, it does mean when they disagree or think differently there is still kindness and respect shown.

John 13:34-35…34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples if you love one another.”

What does love look like: Here it is!!!

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant.

5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered,

6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;

7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

God Resists the Proud

James 4

"“He jealously desires the Spirit whom He has made to dwell in us”?

6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

7 Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

9 Be miserable, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom.

10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you."

God speaks to the humble and does not speak to the proud. The word "resist" here, God resists the proud is a battle stance. He will come against those who are proud and rebellious.

We are to resist the devil, a battle stance. If we are discerning and seeking Christ in us we will not be fooled by the deceptions that are rampant in our age.

Hebrews 12:2-4

"2 looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Hallelujah!!! Keep looking up, Christ is coming for His Bride soon.

The Battle of Deception | Jimmy Evans