Lets Read the Whole Passage About Forgiveness

Let's read the rest of that passage;
Luke 17:3-4 "…3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” 

All forgiveness must be preceded by repentance.

 
We desire that relationships be reconciled but they can only be so if someone is sorry and someone forgives.

 
Believers have forgiveness in their hearts all the time, in order to pass it to the offender there must be a desire to have changed behavior and the realization that someone was harmed.

 
God tells us to avoid an angry man, this is a command that we cannot walk with those who continually offend without ever thinking they did anything wrong. Those who justify their sin cannot be forgiven.

 
Galatians 5:19-21
"Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

Proverbs 13:20
"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."

1 Corinthians 15:33
"Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

When we make foolish people are constant companions we will become like them or at the very least we will enable them to stay as they are without guilt about their behavior or attitude.

Good for You Dad!!!!

https://youtube.com/shorts/LDDTgtC4lNI?si=Qqq72RhRhgNF2wkF

How We Interpret What Happens To Us!

Everyone interprets what they hear according to their own biases and according to their own mindset.

An angry person will see an insult where there is no insult. They suspect others of being insulting because angry people are continually using rudeness to control the feelings of others.

A kind and loving person may miss an insult because they interpret what is said according to what they would be feeling if they said such a thing. Or they might interpret an insult as being from someone who had a problem that day because in their mind no one would do that for no reason at all.

The kind person may even blame themselves for somehow making someone else upset without knowing what they did to cause it. Kind people hate harming anyone, they will quickly evaluate themselves to make sure they were not offensive and even inquire to find out what they may have done or said that was offensive.

A wise person never offends to control others and they can see when someone is manipulating to increase a feeling of guilt in them or others.

Proverbs 1:4-6 "…4 To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young, 5 let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel 6 by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.…"

Proverbs 9:9

"Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning."

Proverbs 14:6

"A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning."

The purpose in knowing the tactics of unruly people is to be able to respond correctly while never allowing ourselves to become like them by replying in kind or in anger. Those who are confident about their ways have no need to defend themselves or become caught in the web of the narcissistic tactics of those who do not love God.

In other words, be the opposite of what the rude person is trying to goad you into becoming.

Ephesians 4:31-32

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

It doesn't matter what anyone else is doing to us, we are responsible for replying in a calm respectful manner or to remain silent. A strong person can do this because they are confident in Christ, they never have the sense that they need to win anything in conversation with a wicked person.

Keep looking up! One day everything will be exposed and Christ in us already knows it all.

Emotional Response or Reasonable Explanation?

Our emotional responses say something about us. Those who respond with reason are operating from rational thought. Those who respond emotionally in rage are not thinking nor are they demonstrating love.

I knew someone who practiced gaslighting to confuse and frustrate others in conversation. When someone was giving a reason for what they did he would call it "an excuse" to diminish them. Everything to this person was seen as an "excuse" unless it was him, then it was a "reason."

This tactic of accusing others of things that are not true often is a confession of the narcissist of what is in their own heart. Dismissing the reasons of others while validating only his own reasons was a tactic to antagonize someone into an angry response and even cause them to doubt themselves.

When we notice a person regularly and even continually dismissing our conversation to antagonize us, this is a person to avoid.

Proverbs 22:24-25

"Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul."

Those who use hostility to cause anger in others are themselves angry people. They know they are angry inside because of their attempts to make others seem worse than themselves by their strategy to cause emotional responses in their target.

God made it clear to avoid these people, they are controlled by the devil to cause God's people to fall into the sin of frustration and self-defensiveness.

If you have to be around someone because they are family then we must learn to ignore their tactics, be comfortable never explaining ourselves to them, and refuse to become emotionally enticed to respond just like them.

If a narcissist can cause anger in us they will count it a win and in their own mind will appear superior to those they aggravate.

Proverbs 22:24-25 "24 Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man, 25 or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.…"

Remaining silent is often the best course of action when we notice someone's attempt to provoke us to elevate themselves.

Proverbs 15:18

"A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute."

Proverbs 21:24 "“Proud,” “Arrogant,” “Scoffer,” are his names, One who acts with insolent pride."

Isaiah 16:6

"We have heard of Moab's pomposity, his exceeding pride and conceit, his overflowing arrogance. But his boasting is empty."

Never fear those who act in arrogant pride to antagonize those they hate. Our greatest weapon against such people is to remain unaffected and unemotional about their foolishness toward us.

To care what they think of us is what causes us to defend ourselves. When we care only what God thinks we have no need to explain ourselves to those who love to provoke others into annoyance.

Romans 12:19

"19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord."

Trust Christ in all things and we will have no desire to force a response.

Narcissists Hate Those Who Do Not Elevate Them

It is common for narcissists to attempt to shape us into their idea of a successful person. To them a successful person is one who is just like them.

No matter how much they twist God's Word or defy kindness and love, they believe they are good people because they are special.

When someone thinks they are above others it is not possible to possess the fruit of the Spriit of Christ.

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."

The first characteristic of the fruit of God's Spirit is love. We cannot come to Christ believing we are special and expect to be forgiven. To be born again we must admit our sinful nature, no one who does this thinks highly of themselves.

Anyone who hangs on to pride will not be born again.

James 4:9-10

…9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you."

God will exalt us when we are humble but He will never exalt those who have exalted themselves.

2 Chronicles 7:14

"and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land."

God will not forgive the sins of those who will not humbly admit they have sinned.

Proverbs 29:23

"A man's pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor."

Ezekiel 21:26

"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'Remove the turban, and take off the crown. Things will not remain as they are: Exalt the lowly and bring low the exalted."

Job 22:29

"When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person."

It is clear in God's word that those who attempt to remain superior to others will be brought low eventually. When anyone act superior to people they are also doing it to God. They are a god unto themselves and will not listen to God about anything. These people take the Scriptures and twist them into what they want to believe rather than asking God what He said.

1 John 1:9

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

God will not forgive those who are prideful and willful.

James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

The devil wants people to embrace arrogance so that he can control their thoughts and their heart leading them deeper into haughtiness. A sense of superiority to people and to God leads those who are like this into bitterness and resentment when others do not accept their idea of themselves.

When we have become born again we do not want to offend God or people. Our desire is to become like Christ.

Galatians 5:24

"And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

2 Timothy 1:7

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

Those who love Christ have no need or desire to be superior to others.

The Holy Spirit is our Authority no one Else

Why would we need any human being to be an authority over us when we have God Who created the universe living inside of us.?!!!!

If we allow any human being to be our authority we are usurping the Holy Spirit and practicing idolatry.

Spirit of glory (1 Peter 4:14)
Lord, The (2 Thessalonians 3:5)
God (Acts 5:3-4)
Spirit of revelation (Ephesians 1:17)
Spirit of the Son (Galatians 4:6)
Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2; 1 Corinthians 2:11; Job 33:4)
Eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14)
Spirit of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2; Acts 5:9)
Spirit of wisdom (Isaiah 11:2; Ephesians 1:17)
Spirit of counsel (Isaiah 11:2)
Spirit of might (Isaiah 11:2)
Spirit of understanding (Isaiah 11:2)
Spirit of knowledge (Isaiah 11:2)
Spirit of the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2)
Spirit of judgment (Isaiah 4:4; 28:6)
Spirit of burning (Isaiah 4:4)
Spirit of the Lord God (Isaiah 61:1)
Breath of the Almighty (Job 33:4)
Comforter (John 14:16, 26; 15:26)
Spirit of truth (John 14:17; 15:26)
Power of the Highest (Luke 1:35)
Spirit of the Father (Matthew 10:20)
Spirit, The (Matthew 4:1; John 3:6; 1 Timothy 4:1)
Good Spirit (Nehemiah 9:20; Psalms 143:10)
Holy Spirit (Psalm 51:11; Luke 11:13; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30)
Free Spirit (Psalm 51:12)
Spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10)
Seven Spirits of God (Revelation 1:4)
Spirit of holiness (Romans 1:4)
Spirit of adoption (Romans 8:15)
Spirit of life (Romans 8:2; Revelation 11:11)
Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9; 1 Peter 1:11)
Spirit of grace (Zechariah 12:10; Hebrews 10:29)

The Confessions of the Narcissist