How to Rebuke - Everything You Need to Know

How they Pretend to Love God but Covet His Position

No One Can Hide What is in their Heart

We know the heart of people by their heart condition revealed in their actions, attitudes, and words.

The Spirit of Christ lives in us and He reveals to us through His Word and His discernment what is in the heart of another human being. We must consult with Him to see it but we can see it. The fruit is not words or actions it is the character qualities of Christ that lead to words and deeds.

Matthew 7:15-20

A Tree and Its Fruit

15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?

17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the 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 So then, you will know them by their fruits."

Every believer can discern this fruit that exudes the character of Christ.

Not everyone who has good words or actions is born again. this is why we must watch them over time to be able to see the resistance to God that dwells in them.

Those who love Christ will love His Word, desire His direction and be ashamed when they make a misstep. Even the slightest bad attitude will torment their heart until they confess. They sense the broken communication between them and God when they have grieved His heart.

Those who are pretenders only care about outer appearances, This is why only those who live with them day in and day out can see if their walk is real. Those who are authentically born of Christ do not have two personas, they are the same at home as they are in public. Those who are different at home than they are in public are those who walk the walk of the Pharisees.

Matthew 23:27-29 "…27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity.

28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside, you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous."

Matthew 23:4-6 "…4 They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,…"

These people love the praise of men and will be angry if they do not have it.

Matthew 6:1

"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."

Those who need the praise of men will be agitated and even angry when they do not receive praise for all that they do.

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."

As we walk through life we will be seeing things through the eyes of Christ Who lives in us. We will not see as the world sees but will be able to discern the things of God, the actions of believers and nonbelievers clearly.

1 Corinthians 2:13-15 "…13 And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

14 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment.…"

When someone says to you that you cannot know the heart of a man they are repeating only one passage that is describing the lack of Spiritual discernment of the unsaved.

Psychology teaches that a man's actions can be different from his heart, but God says that a man's actions prove his heart.

Our actions cannot be different from our hearts. This is why a covert narcissist does subtle unkind things to agitate their friend, they are not walking in love but in hatred. Anyone can have a slip and confess to be cleansed but the narcissist lives continually in a state of anger and resentment leading to perpetual actions and attitudes of rebellion against those who love Christ.

Those who walk in pretense without the Holy Spirit will regress as they become older because they no longer feel the need to impress anyone. They have developed a hard heart that becomes harder by the day.

I have heard people say they were astonished at how their elderly friend had changed, but no one changes their heart just because they grow old, we only stop hiding anymore.

Giving up on God and love only shows what was in the heart all along. Pretenders cannot keep up a pretense forever, eventually, the burden of play-acting is going to become too heavy and they will give up allowing their real selves to emerge.

For the believer the heart has softened even more over the years because the Spirit of Christ has been working and transforming them from the beginning of salvation. They do not become worse as they grow older, they become sweeter.

I have known believers who had Alzheimer's who would act out as a little child would because their body and mind were deteriorating, but their attitude would sneak out during the lucid times and they would praise God and sing Christian songs with great joy. Our bodies deteriorate sometimes but we never forget Christ.

It is important to develop our relationship with Christ from the time of salvation so that in our elder years we speak more of Christ not less. After all, the older we become the closer we are to going home to Him. Shouldn't He be the las thing on our minds before we pass?

Love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness and self-control do not leave us because we grow older, they intensify. I am convinced those who grow more selfish and rude as they grow older have never been born again.

Business is not a Badge of Honor

Narcissists need to keep themselves distracted all the time with business. They will accuse others who take breaks or enjoy quiet time of being lazy.

If a narcissist takes the time to relax they would have to self-reflect and this would be unthinkable to them. Since they regard themselves as perfect with a persona that elevates them above others, relaxing would diminish this false sense of superiority.

Business is the food for the narcissist to boast of their continual worth in the eyes of others. What others think of them is paramount to their self-worth, at least in their own opinion.

They believe if they are not busy they are worthless. Continual distraction from self-reflection leaves them unwise. It is self-reflection and medication on the things of God that bring wisdom.

I hear this all the time from Christians when we ask them how they are doing, it is the first thing out of their mouths; "I have been very busy", as though it is a badge of honor. But the things that busy them are not the things of God, they are pleasures and desires being fulfilled.

Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Matthew 6:33-34

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Rely Only Christ Alone

When someone relies on the approval of others they will become very weak if that approval diminishes as they are aging.

When we trust in Christ alone we will never be without a sense of confidence, but not in ourselves, it will be in Christ.

Because we depend on Christ and not people we will be able to face anything and stand firm for truth with or without the support of people.

Those who depend on people to validate them have a low emotional intelligence based on superficial acceptance. They depend on meaningless social attachments that prop them up.

However, there must be constant interaction with others praising them to have any sense of purpose. The purpose is only felt if others are lifting them up.

With Christ, we need no one else to elevate us in order to feel whole and loved. He loves us more than any person can and will always tell us the truth that is best for us and will enhance what He has for us to do.

For the "people pleaser" there is emptiness when there is not approval or appreciation from those around them.

The Christ-follower has no need of approval or appreciation from others, they have Christ Who lives in them and are able to continue on if no one else supports or loves them. They are loved by other believers and they know it, so the bond between Christ-lovers and one another is so great that there is no need for superficial bravado.

John 13:34

34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another."

This love is not conditional to performance but does encourage one to walk in truth. There is no greater love than that which is motivated by the love of Christ.

Hallelujah!

Walking Away from Human Traditions

2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…'

When we compare the attitudes of people and the practices of traditions that are in the modern church there is little resemblance to the first-century church gatherings. There are more man-made traditions than there is the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 7:13 " 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”"

Paul was zealous for the traditions of his forefathers until he became born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, and then he began to leave those traditions to follow Christ.

Galatians 1:14

"I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers."

Mark 7:9 "Mark 7:9

"And he said unto them, Full well you reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition."

Our modern churches are following many traditions of men that God never commanded in favor of the accolades and money they gain by being in control of the people. And worse yet they are rejecting those who bring the truth through dismissiveness, intimidation, and gossip to ruin their influence.

The good news is that God says to keep on keeping on no matter what they do to you, our mission is clear and nothing should stop us from telling the truth as we are led by the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 5:11 "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."

This is happening in the church today just like it was in the days of Jesus Christ and Paul when the Pharisees reviled them.

Matthew 5:10-12 "10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.…"

Because we have been indoctrinated to follow the "churches" and their hierarchy system we have difficulty leaving these systems or even disregarding their foolishness. Even when they are wrong we feel a sense of shame over leaving or rejecting the nonsense. And, to top it all off we have the pressure of those around us to do things and to think the way they do or we are reviled, mocked, and dismissed as rebellious.

Isaiah 41:10

"10 Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not be afraid, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, I will also help you,

I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.’"

Isaiah 41:13

"13 For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand,

Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’"

Deuteronomy 31:6

"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Hallelujah!!!!

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The End Times Apostasy in Leadership

We are living in the apostate age when nearly all the churches are following false doctrines and defending things God never said.

The one-man-paid-pastor system is evil and has fostered believers' laziness, making the leader the mediator between God and man.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 ". 5For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.…"

Those men who teach that only they have the truth and the people in the pews cannot know, they must follow these men are speaking from the devil. Even if they don't say the words, they are sending the message and arrogantly demonstrating a superiority over others that God hates.

Matthew 20:25-26 "25 But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,…"

Calvinism and the Nephilim nonsense have overtaken many famous preachers who love their accolades and awe of people. They are teaching sensationalism and love the false doctrine that elevates themselves in the eyes of the people.

When the believers look to the man instead of Christ they will not bother to seek the Holy Spirit on their own. Many scholars who come out of Bible college are not born again, the very reason they lust after power over others.

Because of the anger toward those who tell the truth I am convinced that most people sitting in the pews at church gatherings have never been born again. They will defend their pastor over false doctrine and wince, embarrassed at the mention of the Holy Spirit.

There are more wrong things in the apostate church today than there is truth. The Holy Spirit is our teacher, no man has authority over us only the Holy Spirit does. Those sitting in pews every week cannot be convinced to follow the Holy Spirit and not a man, they consider it arrogant to say "Don't follow men."

Because the Holy Spirit is seen as a "concept" instead of the Person of the Godhead, the people are ashamed of Him, even doubting that anyone can hear from Him. It makes me believe that no one can be born again and still remain indifferent or embarrassed at the mention of the Holy Spirit.

The question has been on my mind for a long time now; "How can someone be born again with the Holy Spirit living in them and not sense His presence, and not communicate with Him or hear from Him.

I have spoken with many people who are Christians who ask me; "What does it feel like to hear from the Holy Spirit?" I am astounded by this question because I know what it feels like to hear from Him and He has answered many things for me over the years when I was perplexed and desiring wisdom.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

"19 Do not quench the Spirit, 20 do not utterly reject prophecies, 21 but examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good, 22 abstain from every form of evil."

Perhaps believers are looking to men and the writings of men instead of the Holy Spirit. In essence, they have placed their trust in men they elevate above God.

The lack of interest in the Holy Spirit does not make sense to the one who is indwelt by Him. So is it possible that most people who say they are born again have never been changed by Christ and do not have the Holy Spirit?

1 Corinthians 2:14

"14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot * understand them, because they are spiritually appraised."

The Holy Spirit will never tell us something different from what God said in His Word the Bible. When someone brings a false doctrine we know they have not consulted with God but have trusted only themselves or other men who claim to be learned.

John 3:4-6 "…4“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.…"

If someone claims to be a "Christian" but has no interest in the Holy Spirit or the truth, but follows men and elevates them, it is very likely they have never been born again.

Since we know we are living in the last days of apostasy it makes sense that most people in the church pews were never born again, just as the religious leaders in the time when Christ walked the earth were resistant to Christ while claiming to be godly.

Superiority above others while lacking humility is one of the first signs to watch for when evaluating a "leader" since no one can come to Christ without humility, the fleshly pride of superiority cannot remain when Christ has changed someone into a new creation.

Since the Holy Spirit is our leader and not a man, we are responsible for judging the hearts of those who claim to be over us.

1 Corinthians 2:15

"But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one."

John 7:24 "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

Because the people have been indoctrinated that they should never judge and that leaders are authority over them, they remain silent and compliant when a leader speaks untruths from a pulpit.

The pulpit was designed to elevate one man above another, it is a trick of those who love hierarchy to give the appearance of authority over the people

We only obey those in leadership who are obeying God. We must resist obeying those who are leaders when they defy God's Word.

Ephesians 5:21

"Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."

Every believer is to submit to every other believer as they are led by God. They are never to submit to anyone who is disobeying God or teaching heresy.

Often those we submit to have no authority over us, they are equal with us in the faith, however, there are those who have a calling to lead by example and by teaching, never having authority over us, that is the job of the Holy Spirit, He is our Authority.

1 Peter 5:3

"Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."

1 Peter 5:2

"Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;"

Titus 1:7

"For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,"

2 Timothy 2:15

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

1 Corinthians 4:1-2

"This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful."

God has placed certain people in the gathering as leaders by example and teaching but this is not authority over, it is guidance according to the Word of God. When those who are the leaders will not obey the Bible then we must seek the Holy Spirit and rebuke those who are in rebellion.

Colossians 2:8

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."

John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you."

John 14:16

"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever-"

If you have been following any man, whether famous or in your church gathering, repent and begin to follow the Holy Spirit. Seek the Word of God the Bible, and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom, you can never go wrong when the Holy Spirit speaks and you obey.

When Christ left He sent the Holy Spirit to live in all those people who trusted in Him. They were not left without counsel or help because there is no better help than the Holy Spirit.

My question to you is this; "How would it be possible for a man to be better than the Holy Spirit when we seek counsel?"

John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you."