Pride at the Root of All Evil in the World

All the problems of the world are created and stem from pride. The devil was thrown out of heaven because he pretended he was superior to his creator. He chose to believe something about himself and even about God that was not true. Then over time, he began to believe his own lies.

Often people who are friends and those who are family would rather believe the gossip they hear than go to the object of the gossip to find out the truth. Perhaps they fear finding out the truth that would convict them of their sin of judging that which they have not known. Loyalty to their lying friends means more to them than preserving the reputation of a righteous person.

Often people assume things about those they dislike in order to believe what they want to about that person.

I have seen often in my life fowl treatment of a person based on nothing more than something made up in someone's mind to justify their own hatred and jealousy toward that person.

I recall the account of a woman who experienced ill-treatment from relatives because of something a brother told them in gossip. The brother made an assumption that his sister treated her children a certain detrimental way and passed this desired assumption on to other family members.

The brother could not have known how the sister and her husband treated their children because he lived 1500 miles away. He was making judgments based on his prejudiced feelings alone, without any evidence at all.

Narcissists court their own ideas so long they begin to believe what they say to those who have no business judging, people who have not seen anything for themselves and could not know details except the lies the narcissist feeds them.

I also knew of a person who was called a "rebellious person" because they didn't like the personality of the one that would not bow to the narcissist's ways.

The devil did this with Eve in the garden. He told her that God was not to be trusted by questioning whether or not God actually said not to eat the fruit. When Eve explained to the devil that God did say not to eat the fruit the devil was able to make her believe that God meant her harm and wasn't being honest with her.

You see the devil has not changed his tactics one bit since the beginning of creation. He still accuses the good people of bad things while claiming the bad people have a good reason for their hatred.

We can expect to see more of this as we march toward the end times prophesy. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 clearly tells us the mind-set of the end times earthly population. This is not just a few people here and a few people there, it is the mindset of the entire world, everyone except the remnant Christians who are a small number compared to the population of the world.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

"1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,

4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

5 holding to a form of [b]godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."

Remember the word "difficult" or "perilous" in the KJV means "ragingly insane." When we know this we do not have to take anything evil people do to us or say about us seriously. God will deal with them in due time, all we must do is focus on our walk, remaining faithful to Him, seeking Him in all we do and leave the rebellious ones to God to deal with.

Romans 12:18-19 "…18If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”…"

This does not mean we seek out to do good to evil people so they will feel guilty, that is fleshly and a form of revenge. We are to remove ourselves and allow God to work in their lives as He sees fit.

The "holier than thou" mentality deliberately using good deeds to manipulate others to feel guilty is not only a form of revenge but also a snobbish superior attitude that is itself sinful, full of pride. The mentality is a sort of "I will be so good to you that you will see how superior I am to you", is the filthy disgusting pride that got the devil expelled from heaven.

When we have to be in the presence of a wicked person we treat everyone with respect knowing that we were once lost as they are. Our purpose in all that we do is to glorify God and let our light shine before men. Those who "heap hot coals of kindness" for the purpose of acting superior are not in obedience to God, they are not humble and they only glorify themselves.

Humility Definition: "unselfed", "absence of self-awareness", "knowing that no one is any better than someone else.

Ephesians 4:31-32" Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. "

Those who will not confess their offenses against others will also be those who do not forgive others. They do not please the Lord in any case, they do not grow and they lack all the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 "22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

It is not necessary to have a law to be these things, those who have them have them by the power of the Holy Spirit. They do not have to try to be these things, they are a part of their character as much as breathing. There is no need to think about being kind, it naturally emerges without any thought to those who possess the qualities of the character of Christ.

So I guess the lesson here is not to go forth and try to do better, the lesson is to ask God to change us into these qualities that are His very nature.

The world we live in every day does not understand this fruit, they do not know how to be what is not a part of their being. Their being is that of a fallen person who cannot understand what these qualities look like unless they have been changed by Christ or have seen the life of a born again believer.

The problem is that we have so few born again believers in the world today, many who claim they are Christian do not know what love looks like. They think it is permissiveness for momentary happiness.

The world defines love very differently from how God's Word the Bible, explains that it is and they do not understand the nature of Christ.

May this comfort and encourage the believers as they seek to be more like Christ while walking in a world that hates Him and them.

How to Handle Evil Family Members & Co Workers

Be Careful of False Brethren

Self Reflect or Remain Weak and Foolish

Those who are not able to self-reflect cannot change or grow! This ought to be the constant response to life for the born again believer.

1 Corinthians 11:31 "…30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.…"

Most people are not seeking God to show them where they fail and when others show them they become angry instead of learning from it.

This is why we see so many weak and worldly Christians, there seem to be more of them now than there are those who love to self-reflect to grow in holiness.

When you notice someone in their 70's and they are no more mature than they were in their 20's, it is strong evidence that they have been stubborn all their lives and have not grown in wisdom.

If we want to grow in holiness and please God more, then we must self-reflect to see if we are in obedience to the Word of God.

John 14:14-15 "14 If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it. 15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—…"

The more we pray for God to drudge out of us the worldliness and show us our flaws, the more we grow. May we all be growing until the day we die.

Proverbs 3:4-6 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

They Will Argue With God

Did you know that there will be arrogant self-righteous people who will argue with God at their judgment? Astounding isn't it?

Matthew 7:21-23

I Never Knew You

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Perhaps you are astounded at times because "Christians" argue with you to justify their sin. Don't be so surprised they will argue with God too one day when they face Him.

Notice verse 22 when they say to God; but God, "didn't we prophesy in your name and do miracles in your name." In verse 22 and in verse 23 God says this to them: "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of iniquity."

Imagine the self-righteous religious spirit that has the audacity to argue with God. Why would we think for a moment that they will not argue with us when we use God's Word.

Many people are doing things they like to do and claiming they were for God. I am here to tell you that God is not impressed with the good deeds that are done to impress others and make us feel proud. He hates them, He will throw into hell those who are seeking their own righteousness apart from Christ.

Next time we are tempted to do good deeds we had better ask God if its what He wants us to do. If it is not His will then do not do that which God never told you to do. If you are doing good deeds because others are pressuring you then it is not for God, but for the love and adulation of man.

I have a phrase that God gave me many years ago when I felt the pressure from others to do certain things for God. My answer was "God has not told me to do that." When God tells me to do something it comes without warning and I am compelled with a strong sense that I should do it. I cannot disobey. Learn to hear God before engaging in something that sounds good or pleases people, often it is a trap to draw us away from His will.

Think about it! Just saying!

The Nation that will not Obey the Lord

Roe V Wade is not going to be abolished by another Supreme Court appointee. We have had presidents who claimed to be pro-life who refused to execute an "Emancipation Proclamation" regarding the lives of the pre-born baby.

If the present administration is truly pro-life he would take drastic and swift measures like those of President Lincoln, to abolish abortion.

This mess about getting baby steps to stop some of the abortions perhaps to move closer to eliminating all of them is nothing more than a cowardly ploy to appease those who will riot in the streets if abortion is abolished.

We know this because of the way slavery was handled in this country before the "Dread Scott" decision came down from the Supreme Court. There was fear of a civil war if it was abolished, just as there is fear of the same thing if abortion is abolished suddenly.

Remember when the liberals want to do away with a group of people they deem them as non-persons. That way they can eliminate them without conscience.

A godly president would not wait for baby steps, he would know how much abortion grieves the heart of God and quickly abolish the evil.

Please, do not give these presidents who were too weak to obey God any more excuses. When God tells us to stop sin he has never spoken of it in terms of stopping slowly and in increments. He wants the sin to stop RIGHT NOW.

1 John 3:4

"Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness."

James 4:17

"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."

Ezekiel 14:12-14 "12 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 13“Son of man, if a land sins against Me by acting unfaithfully, and I stretch out My hand against it to cut off its supply of food, to send famine upon it, and to cut off from it both man and beast,14 then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.…"

The Goal of the Narcissist is Always to be Special and Above Others Even God

When a narcissist asks you how you are doing they are not asking because they care about you. They are asking to have information to be able to judge or pass misinformation to others to destroy your peace.

Sadly this is happening all too often these days. Since there is a growing number of narcissists in the world today because we are living in the final days before God's wrath, we will see this phenomenon of selfish pride increasing exponentially.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,

4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."

Notice these are people who "have a form of religion" Its in the churches today on steroids. The pretenders are teaching people "do not judge", this keeps people from correcting one another as well as causing anger in those who do not want to be corrected.

2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but having itching ears, they shall heap to themselves teachers in accordance with their own lusts."

When we care deeply about the principles of Christ and obey His word to correct one another, we will be met with much resistance.

A born again believer who loves Christ does not hide, they do not pretend and they receive correction with gladness. If we have studied the word of God and know the truth about a matter we have no reason to become angry, we can share, if the one who corrects us will listen, that we already know the answer because God has shown it to us. We can provide our scripture and have no need to be angry.

Those who are angry at our staunchness for the word of God will call us angry. The narcissist always places on their target the very thing the narcissist is displaying and the corrector is not.

Because the narcissist despises being corrected they are more interested in proving us wrong than they are in God's Word. Pride, the very sin that got the devil thrown out of heaven looms large in the hearts of many in the church.

When the narcissist cannot change our mind because we have studied and resolved a matter with God, they will begin the character assassination. They will leave the subject at hand while moving onto accusations about our character even when they don't know anything about our lives.

I have met many people who have encountered these frustrating discussions with narcissists. They do not discuss to learn our view or God's principles, they discuss to win and when they cannot win over you they will demolish your reputation with others.

We saw this happen with Christ and all the apostles. Christ was accused by Pharisees that He did His miracles by the power of the devil. It was the devil influencing their thinking and using their mouths, we can expect the same to happen to us.

Revelation 12:9-11 "…9 And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down— he who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.…"

I actually had a woman accuse me of not giving scripture to support my points when I had given her lengthy and many scriptures She accused me of what she was doing, she had not given me much scripture that supported her view, in fact, the little scripture that she had was snatched out of context and had little to nothing to do with the discussion.

When I explained that remarriage was called adultery by Christ, the answer that came back was that "we should love people." What she refused to admit was that correction from God's Word was love. We cannot love someone and allow them to remain in sin without challenging it. She was falsely accusing me of not being loving because I called a sin what it was, sin against God.

Hebrews 3:13 "13But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness."

Luke 17:3 " 3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him."

Let it be known that narcissists do not discuss anything, they argue to win. When we discover this is what is happening it is time to exit the conversation. We cannot help someone learn the ways of God when they refuse to pray and take a good look at scripture.

Pretenders and superficial Christians often quote mantras that are not Biblical as well as using partial scripture out of context to justify sin.

God encouraged me many times with people like this, He told me to speak the truth, do not respond to the accusations, and move on when the discussion is going nowhere good. When anger is emerging with accusations of character rather than proof of scripture, it is the big clue that you cannot reach this person with the truth. Then He said clearly, pray for them but avoid being a companion, this angst and domination is a part of their character. They need to be changed by Christ into a new creation so that when this happens they will love God's word and His commands. His principles for living become second nature to those who love Him.

John 14:15 "15If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. "

If the scriptures given here are not enough scripture for someone then they can go back to the passages and read the entire chapters as well as relating passages in the Bible to discover the truth. Also, keep in mind that we must place all passages and all chapters in the context of the entire Bible to understand God's commands and His Heart.

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