The elder son in the account of the prodigal son, did what he should for appearances, but was rebellious and contemptuous toward his father on the inside. There were actually two prodigals in that story, only one repented in humility and shame over his sin. The elder son never admitted his sin against his father, he was too proud that he had done what the father did regularly and ran the family business, but would not bend even a little when asked to share in the younger brothers repentance and joy.
I suspect that the older brother was jealous of his younger brother, and even more angry that he had repented in humility.
It reminds me of the little boy who was commanded by his father to sit down. The response of the child was "I will sit down, but I am standing up on the inside."
How many people pretend to love the Bible but act contemptuous toward those who quote scripture to correct their error.
Narcissists hate those they perceive as less perfect than themselves, but show even greater contempt when these "lesser" people confess and turn from their sin.
Narcissists love to see people sin, it makes them feel superior. A truly humble person is saddened and even angered at the sin in the lives of those they love, but have a greater degree of joy when they repent, confess and return to obedience.
Lacking empathy and kindness motivates the narcissist to choose to see others in a negative light, when they cannot do that legitimately they will make something up.
The greatest degree of prodigy is to pretend to obey on the outside while seething with contempt and anger on the inside.
Outward obedience is not the measure of a godly life, pretenders can do this, it is the responses that come out when we are faced with reality about our own hearts.
Matthew 15:19 "…18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, FALSE TESTIMONY, and slander. "
It struck me as I read the phrase, " false testimony." Many people have a verbal and even physical testimony that appears to be real, until they are challenged to a greater holiness, then the real them emerges to defend themselves.
Psalm 51:17
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
There is a woman who is prophesying the destruction of New York city within the next five days.
Let us keep in mind that we are often known by the company we keep. The woman who is now predicting New York's destruction is friends with Benny Hinn, that is our first clue!
Benny Hinn is a charlatan, full of deceit and evil ramblings. He has done more harm to the cause of Christianity than any other single false teacher.
Perhaps the FBI needs to place the woman predicting these things on the terrorist watch list. I find it interesting that she is making these predictions based on her dreams before the election.
Let it be known that anyone who predicts events that do not come true, can be called a liar and have not heard from God at all.
Deuteronomy 18:21-22 "…21"You may say in your heart, 'How will we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?' 22"When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him."
It is also possible that someone like this could have heard from the devil who knows of the plots that are being arranged by terrorists.
We have much demonic activity occurring now in this last generation. Most people are not recognizing the things we see happening as demonic, but it is only because they don't believe in anything spiritual.
Demons can know the plans of the terrorists and relay them to unsuspecting false prophets.
If this devastation does occur do not assume that the Lord spoke to this woman, it could be that she is merely a means by which the devil is going to get people to place their trust in her rather than in Christ. The great deception is already here, increasing every day.
Seek God, trusting Him alone. If we are to be protected then the Holy Spirit will tell us what to do and when to do it.
DO NOT PLACE YOUR TRUST IN THIS WOMAN, PLACE IT IN CHRIST ALONE!
For some time now I have been flabbergasted at the demands of those who are not even Americans by birth. Muslims are demanding things in our country that we have never done, as though the country belongs to them. Then it occurred to me that "O" has basically declared that there is no America, that we are just another region in the country called the "World."
He is acting as though we have already been taken down and it now belongs to the world powers, that's the reason we have no borders anymore, why aliens are receiving rights they never had and didn't earn and the reason I also believe we are not going to have a "real" election.
This dog and pony show called "an election cycle", that has been going on for the past two years will reveal who is really in charge and it "aint" us folks.
Thankfully we still have enough freedom to worship and live as we please, but I am convinced it won't be long before we won't have that either.
My blessed joy and hope is not in this country or this world. Because I am in a foreign land, heaven is my home, I cannot feel a sense of loss at anything the powers do.
Change is hard for those who hang onto this world, but it is much easier for those who know this is merely a visitation for us and soon we will be going to our real home to be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 "…16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17 After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.…"
How are we going to turn a sinner from their way if we do not confront the sin? There must always be a exposure of the sin and confession for this to happen. So many believe they will win a sinner back to obedience by big smiles and happy hugs but that is not what God tells us to do.
Isaiah 26:10 "10 Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the LORD. "
Matthew 18:15-16 "15 If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’…"
Luke 17:3 " 3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him."
When someone who has been confronted with sin becomes saddened over their sin and confesses it to be cleansed and restored, then we are to restore them as Galatians 6 tells us.
Galatians 6:1-2 "1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ.…"
I think that to place "In God We Trust", on the bills makes it sound like we are trusting in the money as our god.
Which god do many trust in, the Hindu god, Allah or any other pagan god? Most of our country no longer trusts God, let alone having been changed into a new creation by Christ, therefore it is sort of like lying to place it there.
Lastly, If we have trusted in Christ our lives will prove it and our words will confirm our lives, it doesn't need to be on signs all over the place. I would prefer the gospel message rather than a declaration that can be disproven easily by life responses.
It occurred to me the other day that this is happening because "O" and other world leaders are recreating the world into a one world government, so the United States can no longer operate as an individual country anymore.
Illegals are being accepted with full rights according to the powers that be, as an expression and the beginning of the one world system.
We call ourselves "The United States of America", but we are beginning to operate in our laws as though the rest of the world has rights to all our resources.
The change is somewhat subtle but becoming more obvious every day.
I am thankful that this earth is not my home and soon I will be leaving to go to my heavenly home.
Salvation is Christ having changed us entirely into a new creation. Nothing of ourselves and after that He continues His work in us until He comes for us. When we choose Him, He does all the work in us that we desire Him to do. If we are disobedient then He disciplines His children. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit, never to leave us.
2 Corinthians 5:17 "17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! "
Ephesians 2:8-9 " 8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.…"
Ephesians 2:9-10 "…9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life."
Ephesians 1:13-14 "13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or 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?…"
Just as a butterfly cannot go back into the cocoon and become a worn again, neither can the believer ever go back to the state he was before he was born again. He has been completely changed for ever.
