TIMELY Teaching from Michael~

This is a timely message from a broadcast Michael did in 2014 and when Karin sent it to me,I too felt lead by the Holy Spirit to edit and share it due to the nature of the season we are currently in.  I pray it blesses and encourages you, as well.

Council of Time

Saturday Broadcast with Michael

October 18, 2014

Transcript:

God bless every one of you!  Something is changing, something is certainly changing.

Folks, it’s good to be here with you.

Often on SATURDAYS, I take a long run for miles and miles, it helps me to reflect.  This time when I was running while it should have bothered me, it strengthened me.

I saw many people attempting to run, mountains, mountains stopped them cold. People dwelling with things, laughing, mountains stopped them cold.

Folks, as I saw this – I was lit up with strength internally, in my heart I was saying, no, that was not going to happen.  It was an insight, although it was much more than that, many disheartening things.  It gave me an insight, more than a few than the Body of Christ.  Satan, Beelzebub is not going to win. He won’t win,

Before we start, I need to say a prayer.  I need to pray for something before we start.

Today’s lesson, talk, it’s a little different, it’s important, it’s very important.  I hope that as we go through today’s talk it helps a lot of you.

First we need to pray.  [Michael goes into prayer]

Father in the name of Jesus, the Holy One of Israel.  Lord, we humble ourselves, Father we are your children.  We stand in authority today.  Lord, he is hidden among us, he is remaining unnamed, that we may have no power over him.  Lord, we ask that You join us this Saturday, that You join us right now, give us the Holy Spirit, that we can bind the tongue of Leviathan.  We bind the tongues of Legion, we cast out the strength of resistance, which is held in the spirit of vengeance, which is held in the spirit of anger.  We cast them out, in the Name of the Holy One of Jesus of Nazareth.  We will not fear these things, we will not be dismayed, You will strengthen us with the right hand of Your righteousness.  All that righteousness will increase, that which were increased against us.  They will be ashamed, even the unnamed, the spirits of darkness as nothing.  Even those that strive with us as vessels of iniquity, they will perish.  We will not find them, they will not contend with us as they that are against us they shall perish, we will not find them and they that are against us for You are God, and as You wrote, God will hold the right hand.  Not I will, but thee.  Father, You are with us, We stand humble, we stand in meekness Father, we’re asking forgiveness for anything, that may fight against the Spirit of Truth that is in us.  We too cast those things away from ourselves.  Many are coming, physically, Father we will stand in accordance with Your word, for all to see, for anyone to embrace as we will carry the Gospel and demonstration.

Father give us the Spirit of Truth, hold the tongue of the liar and the thief, he seeks whom he may devour, let him find no place here, we bind Beelzebub in the Name of Jesus.  As You wrote Lord, instrument having teeth through the mountains as the situations of anguish they have placed themselves in front of the children, Your children. Let Your word be true. Let those mountains be dissolved, let them be as chaff.  Release us from this bondage, from these unnamed spirits, we bind them in Your power and we give You all the glory.  We will stand and not faint, nor will we fear, for You are with us, Father we recognize your presence.  Bind all those things.  Let your truth be prevalent in our lives.  Take us over with the Holy Spirit, Lord.  We will be known by our fruit, and our fruit will be as You directed, as You anointed us to yield.  Father these things we ask in the precious Name of Jesus Amen.

Ok folks, these things, even this prayer, I plead that over as many who will agree with it so that these unnamed spirits be cast away,  in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Holy One of Israel.

Make no mistake, he is there, he will not prevail, he will not halt.

It is important he do not operate in this Saturday’s  talk, it’s important that we operate in Spirit and so in your hearts, do not resist the Holy Spirit in these talks that we do have.

Now, we have reached a time of demonstration.

But with demonstration, comes a resistance of darkness that will not prevail.

You are the righteousness of Christ, God did say He would hold your right hand during these times, your enemies will sit in mass confusion. Grab hold of those words and place your souls in agreement by the Lord, Himself.

Satan, he will sit in confusion. All these spirits will sit in confusion. They will not prevail in your lives. Grab hold of truth and truth only.

We know the world has confused great things in history, and so now the Lord is leading us into a place where understanding is paramount.  That understanding is sealed through the Holy Spirit.

These spirits seek that this truth not be known, that your days be confused. This is why we must serve Him. If we believe in Him, if we believe we are grafted into the branch and so is Israel, with servants of the most high, so are we.

We are partakers, joint heirs with Christ. Every heir must know his or her Father. Every heir must know what the Kingdom is, every heir must know the foundations of that Kingdom.

To cast away those lies that the World so eloquently taught.  They have injected lies in every aspect of people’s lives.  These things we have learned will not be from wisdom, but by the Spirit, and the Spirit is true. And so, it is the Spirit of Truth we do welcome, that the lies of the enemy and whoever he may work through, let their hands be bound.

Those spirits, their tongues must be held.  There are so many people who are facing mountains, mountains and mountains, they will not remain, the Lord will deal with them, He will make you a threshing instrument.

You, He will make a threshing instrument.

So you can make those hills as chaff, those mountains and hills are the enemy.

HE WILL DO THIS!

Folks, today we will go back to the beginning of beginnings – There is a lie coming out that is so incredibly strong, that if a person is not rooted, he will question his very existence.

This lie will penetrate every faith, it will penetrate everything! I ‘m going to attempt, with the help of our Lord, to send the word out before this lie hits, so that you can know.  You see, most lies, most falsehoods that are small, they do the biggest things, and they cause the most damage. It’s always the small things of this World, the hidden things that work, if something is known, you can point it out, if something is unknown, it dwells among you.  Those things must come to a halt.  It must come to a halt.

Part of this deceptive lie that is coming out – The working wonders of those spirits that rise from the bottomless pit. They would do so much that if it were possible, even the very ELECT WOULD BE DECEIVED.

To understand the origins of things, is not to be deceived. While that’s still disturbing to me about the very elect.  I can see the truth of it.   You see, this oppression is all over the place.  Yes, we do hide those oppressive things from our brothers and sisters and we deal with it in isolation, but they are still there, I‘ll tell you this, they won’t stay.

It seemed that this vision invoked what I saw and provoked me to pray for my Brothers and Sisters. It only expanded the love I have for a great many people and I’ll do everything that the Lord put within me, to ensure that lie or reminding them of things that are in the Word of God, so we need to talk about two origins.  Two origins of truth, including mankind, how things were structured in truth and the truth of those structures. While it may be simple, in mankind it’s going to release in the future.

A lot of you know about Genesis, God created the Heavens and the Earth, right? God created the stars and the heavens, the universe.  You know He did that for the sake of the Earth.  The water creatures, the birds and so forth.  But at one point, all animals ate birds, not meat you see, they ate birds and every green thing, it was for meat.  There was peace in the land. The confusing part to a great many was who exactly was the serpent in the Garden, I’ve heard many things of who it could be, what it could be.

People say metaphors, people say, it was in a laboratory, I’ve heard so many things.

But when God said, let there be light and there was light, I need to point something out to you, in Genesis when God said, let there be light – That’s not when He created the sun.  You see, the Earth was cloaked in mass darkness, that darkness, ladies and gentlemen, are hidden things, everything was hidden, everything was in chaos, everything was in ruin, in fact, the root word in context – Then He said, let there be light and of course, we know, light is like a light bulb, it illuminates, but it also means made known.  Did you guys know that?  And it separated.

A lot of people get that confused because He said, the evening and the morning were the first day, after that He began creating everything else. Separating the water from the waters. He created the stars and the heavens, the galaxies and so forth.  That means they were for signs and seasons, fixed times, a season is a fixed time. He created the stars also.  Now listen… This is important.  He said He created the lights in the Heavens, they would be for the signs and seasons, but then it adds… He created the stars also.

Do you know what the stars are? ANYBODY?

Another word for stars, from ancient Hebrew writing, are the shiny ones, the illuminated ones, stars, luminaries, that’s very important for people to understand,  The shiny ones, yes…  A lot of people.

The stars also. Shiny ones, Princes, and then He made two great lights, to rule the day and the night.  The sun and the moon. People mix that up, they don’t want to attack it, folks, it’s so absolutely true, you see, after He created all this, then He said, let’s make man in Our Own Image.

But He created everything else, everything was established. He created everything else. This is why the serpent was found in the Garden.

Who created the serpent? God did.  The account of Genesis was an account given to Moses. Even those in those dark leadership roles, understand perfectly, that that account of Genesis is accurate, it’s accurate even to the serpent, even the stars.

Why do they spend so much money, looking for life, you know why?  Because they know Genesis is real.  They just don’t know what their job is, so He creates man, man by the way in the Heavens and the Earth and how they came about.  Of the Heaven and the Earth. How they came about.  Genesis one gives you an overview of what He made.  The important part to remember here, is that He separated the light from the darkness.  It’s important you know what darkness is, darkness is the absence of light.

It was in existence, the earth was cloaked in mass darkness before, but the light penetrated that darkness and God separated the two.  He separated light from darkness, light meaning happiness and joy.

A visible truth, to be made known, He created the light.

Have you noticed that?  He never once said, He created the darkness, because the darkness has always been everywhere. Darkness means no control. No rules, no order, no form. Chaos, that’s what darkness is, but God created the light. And he separated the light from the darkness.  No, it’s not, this is pure Genesis theory, no not theory, Genesis fact.  I don’t do well with theories. Anybody’s theories.

For the truth is right here for us to read.

For those who believe in theories, they’re going to be deceived and we have to remember that.  And yesterday we looked at a Scripture that said Scriptures are perceived spiritually, not logically.  They have never seen, they have no answer for, they think of wisdom within themselves, which in terms equates with foolishness. Even with electronics and advancements, there are no new engineered things, it’s a resurrection of technology.

The beginning.  In fact, the serpent, we know who that serpent is, those same serpents that exist today, I told you the Leadership calls him,  K Sarrat, he’s a great horned dragon. A dimensional being. There are posters of this guy, in places that are not public. He can appear just like someone just knocking at your door- Fiery, flying serpents, from the Bible mentions serpents.  There’s a truth in that. They equate it with Dagon. These are lies, this is why some people can’t understand concepts of the Bible, because they are approaching it logically.

The words of the Bible, you can’t figure out with your logical mind, it has to be given to you spiritually, because if you’re doing it logically, you need proof. And if you need proof, you, yourselves cannot go out there and be like an archeologist.  Things they have deemed truth or not. I’m not going to base the end of my walk on man’s logic that he has invented himself.

 

Have you not noticed that the kings and kingdoms of this Earth, have taken over creation in a sense, they have filled the minds with their truth, you know.  True? Why do you think people argue about Scripture, do you know why? Because they can only understand that spirit.  It has to be spiritually discerned, It cannot be logically discerned, and this is why people are going to start falling away and everything else, they thought one thing when the truth is something not perceived with the human mind.

Let’s take a Seraphim for instance.  Those are Angels of God.  Have you ever looked at the description of a Seraphim, if you saw one of those things, you would pass out for fear.  Yet they are from God, they’re not evil.  They’re simply a class of His creation assigned to His work but if you saw one yourself, you would just fall out.  They’ve got glowing eyes.  You wouldn’t equate them with pretty.  But here’s the problem – Did you not know that this world is based on something called vanity?  Beauty is not how you put your makeup on, how chiseled your body looks.  This puts a scale over the eyes of most people because when you say the word beautiful, in the world based upon your eyes, the truth of the Word is discerned spiritually, NOT PHYSICALLY.

These mountains I saw were in front of people, with demons laughing at them, because they’re working from them.  You cannot get rid of a Demonic mountain.

The logic in this world is based from what the demons know and again, the word demon means intelligent. You cannot use Satan’s weapons to fight Satan. You cannot trust your eyes, what you see with these human eyes is a scale within itself.  We judge too much, after the eyes and what we hear. Knowing the spirit, knowing the truth of things.

If we can read the Word discerning it, then we will see it. These things have been all over the earth since before you were born.  It’s time the prophecy that we endure, things are changing, and coming out and see you have to operate in power and in truth and listen to the truth of the LORD.

The Lord’s words are true, the Lord’s words are light and they are a lamp for you! YOU WILL NOT BE IN THE DARKNESS WITH HIS WORDS! You can be plunged into darkness with your own theories, your own logic and everything else, you cannot be plunged into the darkness with the words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Holy One of Israel

But you see, Satan is very cunning.  He gets people away from that and if he gets you away, guess what, you will start looking at those things with the flesh and you’ll begin to judge those things by what you see, by your flesh.

With your human ears, not being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, we know that some things sent by God are absolutely in human terms not beautiful, in fact, they are so not beautiful, that people fall down dead.  Daniel did.  John had a vision and in the vision – How would you like to see 4 living creatures with eyeballs all over it?  That is not beautiful, that looks like an abomination!  And why in the world, of all the things that exist, why in the world, would A SERPENT BE IN THE DARK? Even in that, we’ve taken up the banner of logic to an attempt to understand it. Did you notice that Adam and Eve were not terrified? In fact, they were not terrified of any animal, if a bear came face to face with you, you’d be terrified, wouldn’t you? If a lion came up to you, you’d be terrified, in fact, they were NOT terrified.  Something changed with humanity in the garden, no one pays attention .NO ONE PAYS ATTENTION.  You know why?  Because we’re vain.

Beauty is what you see as beautiful.  What is beautiful and what is not.

Here is what happened to vanity…

We have judged everybody’s looks and everything else. We have looked at television as what is acceptable. And that is how we redeem what is beautiful.  Isn’t that the stupidest thing that anybody could do?  That’s absolutely ludicrous, I call that insanity.  We call one thing beautiful and one thing ugly, based on a poll.  How everybody accepts it. That’s what we do. I need to lose weight, so I can do this.  What about you doing something for yourself, so you can do something for the Lord even more, how about that? We compare ourselves to other people because we were raised in a society of vanity.  And it affects each and every one of us.

The simple truth is this, some people will not go into public because the fear of the public that the public will make fun of how they look.  But that’s how the public is, that’s how we think.

The Lord is saying, remove that, that’s a mountain in your life, that thing right there, is a mountain.

That’s a strong hold, if you can get beyond that, and if you can, because Jesus does not lie.

Dying to the flesh daily is dying to those same things. Dying to vanity, it’s a stronghold in your life, it can change everything that you see. Everything you see will be distorted because of that. It’s a mountain, get rid of it! You need to understand to get rid of it.

You know from the beginning of this thing of COT, I’ve asked people to be 100% themselves, because the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, is a something which is not a phony robot, modeled after things of the world.  To me that’s foolishness, it’s also a mountain, a hindrance, because it hinders your operation. It hinders your service.  You want it straight? If you’re dark, you want to be lighter, if you are too light, you want to be darker. What in the world are we doing?

The problem is most people get caught up on flesh.  I can’t go here . I can’t go there, because of this, you know what happens when it comes to the service of the Lord because when the spirit calls you, it’s never at a convenient time.  If the Lord says, come follow me, you say…  I can’t do that.  You’re just like the guy looking back to their stuff, let me do this first.  That’s what is going to happen, people are going look back to take care of their matters.  Taken over and lost at that time.

I can’t tell you how grievous my heart was to see people in a huge gathering for the sake of Jesus Christ and it was the LAST GATHERING.  I need to take care of this matter, and that matter.  And they were taken over and lost.  I’m seeing now how that’s going to happen.

Because vanity, that small thing, vanity, has crept its way in and people haven’t identified it. Not one of us can say, I don’t have vanity. Not one of us – Not one person in here can say, I do not suffer from having vanity because that would be a lie. That would be a lie. Being presentable is one thing, having vanity is another, because it causes attitudes and everything else…

Comparing yourself to another is impossible, you know why? Because you’re one of a kind. There is nobody like you, you are one of a kind.  But too many people judge after the flesh.

That person’s too short, that one’s too tall, that one’s too round, what are they going to do?  Everyone wants to see an angelic presence.  If one came down to meet them face to face, it’s not going to look like the picture you have in your mind.  Lying spirits will do that, lying spirits will from themselves take any form they desire. That’s why I don’t trust them.

I learned something early, if I had predicted everything that God has presented to me in truth, has NEVER EVER LOOKED LIKE I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO LOOK.

Vanity is a mountain of stronghold. Some people don’t understand how deeply rooted they are in this draconian system.  We have draconian rule- where’s all this stuff coming from? Dragon on people in leadership. On people in leadership.  They wear the dragon.  Leadership, they wear the Dragon. Everybody in leadership wears the image of a dragon. Everybody, they are just sitting there laughing at a great many people.  Because most people have opted to use the weapons of a dragon to fight a dragon.  How can you use the weapons they use?  You can’t do that, how can you use the weapons of your enemy that the enemy designed against the enemy. How can you do that?  It won’t work.

People right now are standing in boldness with the weapons satan has presented them, to use against satan and it’s not going to work. Who taught man war in the first place? Satan and his fallen angels and so we’re going to use weapons of war to do a good thing? Has it ever worked? No, it has not. Not one person can prove that that has ever worked – Yes, I’m quite bold in this because there are too many lies floating around.

I’ve heard people say, without guns, we wouldn’t have won the war to establish America, right, so I said, with so many put in slavery.  This nation is built upon blood the truth be told.  Upon the innocent and it will not stand. God will not be mocked, His words will not.

If the leaders in America were smart, they would recognize something- folks, this Nation was founded on the blood of the innocent, so we need to repent by His word.  But they are not going to do that. That’s why Jesus has to rule and reign for a thousand years, because they are not going to do that. All those that are hoping and wishing, you can hope all day. But facts are facts.  What’s done is done, if a person’s household is not going to repent, it’s going to fall. Why? Because that foundation has blood in it, it’s crying out, that’s why.

If you built anything on the oppression of the innocent, it’s going to fall apart right in front of your face and the righteous will see them perish.  In fact, some of them, they will not even make it.  Because they will be removed, even the demon spirits. The righteous will see their enemy confounded, but then the Lord will remove them because the heart of a righteous person. They hope that everyone can be saved, they aren’t walking around wishing that people be condemned.  And then when it’s all over, you want justice.

You see when you pass from this world you’re no longer hindered by the flesh, you see the absolute truth. The people under the alter they wanted a time of revenge.  Oh, wanting revenge is not bad, and the Lord already said, He was going to do something.  They never once said that, they said, when will you avenge us?  Folks, I’m telling you, the blood all over the Earth is crying out. There are wicked things on this earth.  There’s a true darkness that they cannot see, it’s working in your homes and houses and it’s working in your mind continuously.

What in the world is that all about? Why do we keep the things of the flesh in our hearts, and then perceive the word and even perceive the lies.  Folks, THERE IS NO GOOD THING IN THE FLESH….WHY, would we want to keep it?  To feed the desire of it, that is why.  Some of you want deliverance yet you keep feeding your flesh.  Don’t feed your flesh!  I can tell you right now, as the days get harder and harder many will long for and wish for the past just as the Word interpreted it would be.  Yesterday is finished and does not exist.  Only today exists. Today exists. You determine if the Lord is going to be in that day, with you or not but the flesh is tied to a great many things in the past.  And the things in the future, it has its own sense tied to desires.

Let me explain something, your flesh is just like a reptile, there is no conscious, there is no higher thought, no higher thinking, if you look at a reptile, an alligator when it’s hungry – It just simply goes and takes food. Whatever it instinctively needs, it kills it and takes it, that’s your flesh. It’s always on the prowl, that’s your flesh. It has desires that will never be satisfied. That’s the flesh.

The Lord continually told us, you have flesh, but you are Spirit. Do those things of the Spirit, seek those things of the Spirit, Walk in the Spirit. He told us to subdue, to not succumb but get rid of our flesh.

How many people have decided right now to say, I will right now just get rid of this, of the flesh?   How many people? We have to die to our flesh daily.

FOLKS, IT’S SO VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE we are on the horizon of something, For something and we have to be truly ready to jump.  That’s like going up in a plane and saying, I ’m ready to jump and you’re going to pull your cord and trash bags are going to fly out,  not a parachute, that takes a thorough, through look into of our Lord, wholeheartedly.

Call this flesh, our motivation which should be far different, it really shouldn’t be.  And all of us are guilty of it, every single last one of us.

Folks I’m going to take a very short break. We’re going to talk about these stars and seasons and signs because they are very important.  One big one is about to hit. It’s time for us to be observant of what’s happening, don’t have your parachute bag full of trash bags, we need to have an actual parachute. That’s the Lord and that’s His blood. But the trash bags, that‘s the logic and the knowledge based in the World right?

A lap top can teach you to be an expert of the systems they built, they know nothing about the Lord, our God and they know nothing about that.  They only know about those things they created and they may only observe His creation. They do like satan, they manipulate what he created.  But they can’t command it but our Father can command it, and that same power works through you,  but if you don’t know the difference, how can you?  To be in His knowledge, you can work the gifts freely to stand in your own wisdom and He resists the proud.  So if He is resisting you, those powers that come from Him are resisting you.  He will resist the proud. I’ll be right back.

Music starts

End of Part One

God Bless you all in Love,

?Angela ~ Marked By Heaven

Narcissist/Jezebel ~ Codependent/Ahab Bible Study PART 4

NARCISSISTS:

In our last portion of our study we talked pretty in depth about the “How’s” of witchcraft through which narcissists accomplish their desired outcome of insuring everyone and everything revolves around them.  We went over the red flags, which serve as warning signs of discernment, depicting just how prevalent this Jezebel Spirit is in the Church today.  This is not to say it is tolerated whatsoever in the One True Church Body of Jesus Christ, but rather comes in falsely in full display demanding, we as believers tolerate its tangled web of deception.

In Revelation 2 we are given a small space in time to repent from tolerating this entity within the Church, just as those who operate out of this dark power source are also granted a time of repentance.  It just goes to prove how long-suffering our Father truly is.  Those who do not repent from tolerating or demonstrating such characteristics will be cast into, “Great tribulation,” the Word says.  Verse 23 in Chapter 2, defines what we are going through at this very moment, in this season we have been granted and truly repentance is such a gift.

As the Lord defeats and destroys the offspring (spiritual fruit) of Jezebel something divine occurs — The Bible says, “All the churches shall know that I am he which searches the reins and hearts.”  It goes on to say that He will give each one of us according to our works.  In other words He once again is specific to reiterate His law of reaping what we have sown.  And of course, once we truly repent, our sins are forgotten and washed away forever, but remember like we have discussed so many times – to sin purposely and knowingly is tempting the Lord our God.  Those who do overcome the narcissist within themselves and the Church, no longer tolerating and passing this detestable fruit onto others they come in contact with, are given a promise which is the Morning Star/Jesus and have power from on high to rule the Nations.

Because the Father is so very merciful, He has set before us a very precious opportunity during this season – an opportunity to “search” the reins and hearts of ourselves.  Which is why I keep reiterating – repentance is a gift.  Before I get to ahead of myself, it is important to me that we all remain of one accord and on the same page.  Just so you know exactly what the Lord is speaking here lets define the word “reins” in reference to what the Lord is actually searching for within us.

REINS in Greek means:  Our emotions, inner most feelings, thoughts, purposes, intentions – basically it is anything and everything which has to do with our SOUL.

I believe the fact, “He searches our hearts” for the most part is understood.  So to keep it simple, the Lord Himself is searching us in totality, through and through and knows us better than we know ourselves.  We have been given an invitation to seek Him through the Holy Spirit, to peer into ourselves in order we be purged of all characteristics which do not reflect the Most Glorious Perfect One – Jesus. 

I must note:  This is NOT A CALL to search the hearts and souls of your brethren or those outside of the Church Body, but rather to SEARCH OURSELVES.  And why?  For the sake of repentance alone.  When we stop tolerating this entity from operating in us, it shall cease to exist.

Okay…. So moving on to the focus of our discussion today on Narcissists.

I really hope you have been with us throughout the course of these studies, because in order to view in depth the narcissist it is important to understand they are fueled by a co-dependent.  Therefore, they see a co-dependent as an easy target.  In Part 2 of the Series we went into great detail about Codependency, so if you missed that portion of the study, I recommend you back and review it so today’s message makes sense to produce good fruit in your life.

  • A Codependent wants to fix everyone and every situation.
  • A Narcissist wants to manipulate and change you in order to gratify their every need and desire.
  • They fuel one another via providing energy to each other similar to a demonic dance.

But for today, keep in mind, everyone has narcissistic tendencies (which is why we are dying to SELF daily) but a true narcissist does not reflect on their own weakness, but rather they prey upon the weaknesses of others in order to feed the brokenness they suffer within as wounds.  Pride masquerades the true broken state they are in themselves.  In order to hide the truth of them, they attempt to reveal the faults of you.  The dysfunction of co-dependents allow and energize the narcissists to be hurtful and vice versa.  BOTH are broken inside.

One last thing before we go into characteristics, types and tactics of a narcissist it is important to note the majority of all research I did throughout this study recommends getting completely out of any relationship you may be in with a narcissist.  For the record, I do not share in that belief, unless of course the Lord is directing you to break all ties or if the relationship is causing you extreme physical or emotional harm.  Like with all matters, please take it to the Lord in prayer and follow His advice.  Time again He has given me strength to overcome, just as He has each one of you the many obstacles we face in this journey of life.

You do not have to tolerate a Narcissist’s behavior to love them, which is why boundaries are of the upmost importance, but we will talk about that a little later along with one of their major tools of manipulation, called:  Gaslighting.

So whether you are suffering from narcissism or under the influence of someone who is, my prayer is that this message today blesses you and releases you from the effects of this sinful way of the flesh.  There is no problem too large for our Lord to solve and no sin too great for Him to wash clean.  He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings, isn’t He?

?Create within me and those who are reading this study a pure heart Lord.  Open our Spiritual eyes Lord to the truth of us individually and show us what You desire be made known to us in every situation we are in, so You rule and reign in our hearts, lives, relationships and homes.  In Jesus Mighty Name. Amen.

I truly will be so relieved when I can shut the door on this study as it goes against my flesh and is not a topic I enjoy in the least bit, although it has been very enlightening, it is not something I enjoy discussing.  As with all teachings we must search our own hearts first and foremost and then glean the full truth of it and how it can be applied in our lives today.  As we go over Narcissism it will be easy to spot in others, so use your discernment while we purge it from ourselves, as well.

?We are granted the Morning Star, Who is Jesus, in order we have wisdom and knowledge, which in turn grants us power and dominion.  Jesus abiding inside us, brings daylight into our soul as a light of grace and glory.  Through perfection we attain wisdom, which is a portion of dignity and dominion granted only to a true Child of God.

So without further delay, let’s take a look into Narcissism.

Narcissism is modern day society’s way of defining Jezebel, they are uniform and they are one.  Like I said in previous teachings, but I will say it again – JEZEBEL IS NOT STRICTLY FEMALES, this entity is only referred to in a female sense because it multiplies, birthing it’s negative influence to all who tolerate it in order to be present and influential to weave a tangled web of deceit.

There is no possible way for me to fully share in our given time frame all the characteristics, so I am just going to share as lead by the Holy Spirit and my prayer is it blesses your life in some small way.

TYPES OF NARCISSISTS:

  • VULNERABLE NARCISSISTS – These people are generally very sensitive and tend to be quiet or shy by nature, to disguise their chronic feelings of self-hatred and unworthiness. They overcompensate by putting on a grandiose mask, seeking to merge their identities with other idealized people. They have an unshakable need to feel special about themselves and have little genuine regard for the feelings of others. They are primarily motivated by fear of rejection and abandonment and don’t have the capacity to authentically love and care for others. They use emotional manipulation (such as shaming, guilt-tripping and gaslighting) to secure sympathy and attention from others. Their lives are fueled by inferiority complexes, which often stem from childhood mistreatment.
  • INVULNERABLE NARCISSISTS – These people reflect the traditional image of the narcissist and are highly self-confident, cold and lack compassion. Unlike Vulnerable Narcissists, they are thick-skinned and shamelessly seek for power, glory, recognition and pleasure. They often suffer from god complexes, believing themselves to be far superior to everyone else – and they have to make that known and always be right.

Both of these types share similar traits such as; using others to fuel their delusions, blaming others when something goes wrong and criticizing anyone who sees a fault within them.  They lack empathy, faithfulness and crave power and control.  Manipulation is their tool of choice.

Just to note:  Manipulation of any kind is wrong and goes against the Lord’s design.  The reason being, He granted each soul with freewill, if the Lord on High did not infringe upon the wills of another, neither should we.

The Bible tells us to train a child up in the way he should go…  We are not to “Manipulate” them or others to go in any particular direction.  Just as the Father has us in training to rule and reign with Jesus, He is not manipulating us to do so.  A good measurement tool to use is this:

Training is for the benefit of the other person and Manipulation is for the benefit of self.

  • THE AMOROUS NARCISSISTS – Amorous Narcissists measure their self-worth and grandiosity by how many sexual conquests they have under their belt. This type of person is known for using his/her charm to ensnare others with flattery and gifts, but then quickly disposing of them once they become “boring” and when they have met the narcissists needs (often sexual or image/status orientated). Amorous Narcissists are the ultimate relationship con artists, “gold diggers” and “heart-breakers.” At first glance, they appear highly attractive, alluring and amiable, but underneath they are only out to please and satiate their own needs and desires. There is a tactic they use at the beginning of trying to win you over called, “Love bombing.”  This is when they just sweep you off your feet, so to speak with gifts, words of edification, attention, etc…  Then in a moment change, withhold love and withdraw.  When confronted they may say it is just your imagination, etc…  Chances are if you get into a relationship that seems too good to be true – it likely is.  Which is why it is imperative to seek the Lord first in all things, especially to guard your heart.?
  • THE COMPENSATORY NARCISSISTS – These type of narcissists are driven to compensate for past traumas. They feed love in others by creating larger-than-life illusions of themselves and their achievements, in order to regain power and control over their lives. This type of narcissist usually hunts out emotionally vulnerable people who will serve as the audience to their fabricated stage acts. In reality, this type of narcissist is extremely sensitive to criticism and will rarely apologize for hurting you and even in that, they care more about how you being hurt is affecting their comfort over your own emotional pain they have brought upon you. Emotional abuse and manipulation is a common method of control used by this type.
  • THE ELITIST NARCISSISTS – This breed of person does anything to climb to the “top,” win and completely dominate others. Elitist narcissists are convinced that they are better than everyone else, often due to their achievements or backgrounds (or simply the fact that they were born that way) and have convinced themselves they deserve special treatment, so they stay in a perpetual season of attempting to manipulate and convince others of the same. Their sense of entitlement bleeds into every area of life, from work to the family. They harbor a severely inflated self-image and are skilled self-promoters, braggers and one-uppers. They have a cut-throat need to be the “best” and prove themselves to be intellectually superior all the time and at all costs. They will not listen to any direction or correction from anyone they deem inferior to themselves.
  • THE MALIGNANT NARCISSISTS – The behavior of malignant narcissists often overlaps with that of psychopaths and those with antisocial personality disorders. Malignant narcissists often have no regard or interest in moral vs. immoral behavior, and don’t feel remorse for their actions. This group is characterized by an arrogant and inflated sense of self-worth that delights in “outsmarting” others, purposed to get away with things to the point of being convinced they are above the law and will not get caught. This type of narcissist can often be found in prisons, gangs and drug rehabilitation centers, although many manage to run free in the World today.

We, as humans, have a tendency to focus on who/what we love the most.  Sadly, for narcissists it is self.  Even when generous or remorseful a narcissist will focus on how the situation is of benefit to them.  Remember the profit of their reward is not Jesus, it is recognition to be right.

It is less important to know the types and more crucial we recognize the traits of Narcissism in order we be purged and also discern them in others.  So just like I did with Co-dependency I am going to run through a checklist so to speak, which is not inclusive, to the nature of this spirit at work.  It is important to note we need to overlook labels at times, knowing a Narcissist may weave in and out of each type of narcissism depending on the goal they are trying to accomplish.

NARCISSIST CHARACTERISTICS:

Charismatic
Charming
Controlling
Conceited
Inflated self-perception
Creates drama
Likes to be in the spotlight
Exaggerates their achievements
Requires constant admiration & approval from others
Takes advantage of others
Compulsive liar
Cannot deal with criticism
Gets hurt easily
Extremely jealous
Appears strong on the surface
Desire for power
Difficulty understanding other people’s emotions
Lack empathy
Need for control
Needy behavior
Center of attention
Inauthentic – lacks integrity
Highly Dominant
Attention seeking

All Narcissists change moment by moment depending on the current “Audience,” they are seeking to manipulate or control, so you never quite know who the real person you are dealing with is.  You may think to yourself when you are in an intimate relationship with a narcissist… Wow, so and so is so nice and loving to everyone but me, because once they have attained your admiration and devotion the goal is accomplished and they no longer seek to win you over.  One fuels the other, getting into a vicious cycle of withdrawing and embracing each other in this fashion.

There is a tactic most true narcissists use as a covert operation and it is called GASLIGHTING.  This is a term some of you may possibly be familiar with, and for others this is the first time you are hearing about this form of manipulation and control.

Gaslighting is actually a term given based on an old movie from 1944, in which a husband used various tactics to make his wife start to believe she was crazy.  He did this by messing with her mind, to the point she started to question her own reality.  In a nutshell, Gaslighting is when one person sows seeds of doubt in order to change another’s perception of reality so much that we begin to question our own memory, sanity or reality.  Like with all things, the degrees to which such manipulation can occur varies greatly from just minor changing of events to the extreme.  For example, have you ever gotten into a disagreement with someone and then later they attempt to alter the details of what happened (usually to make themselves look better and you worse) to such an extreme you begin to question yourself?  This would be considered a form of Gaslighting.  It also is a confirmation the enemy is at work, because anytime there is deceit and confusion – he has been given placement to operate.

Keeping in mind our topic today is Narcissists and Narcissists and gaslighting go hand in hand.  I want to briefly cover some signs to ponder, revealing you may be under the influence of this manipulation or even that it is being delivered by your own hand.  To a small degree we have all at one time or another operated in our sin nature, deceiving ourselves by denial, that if I say something didn’t happen, then it didn’t.  Gaslighting occurs when we force our false sense of reality onto another.

WARNING SIGNS YOU ARE A VICTIM OF GASLIGHTING:

  1. Something is “off” about your friend, partner, son, daughter, mother, father, sister, brother, colleagues, boss, or other person in your life … but you can’t quite explain or pinpoint what.
  2. You frequently second-guess your ability to remember the details of past events, leaving you psychologically powerless.
  3. You feel confused and disorientated.
  4. You feel threatened and on-edge around this person, but you don’t know why.
  5. You feel the need to apologize all the time for what you do or who you are.
  6. You never quite feel “good enough” and try to live up to the expectations and demands of others, even if they are unreasonable or harm you in some way.
  7. You feel like there’s something fundamentally wrong with you.
  8. You feel like you’re constantly overreacting or are “too sensitive.”
  9. You feel isolated, hopeless, misunderstood and depressed.
  10. You find it hard to trust your own judgment, and given a choice, you choose to believe the judgment of the manipulator.
  11. You feel scared and as though “something is terribly wrong,” but you don’t know what or why.
  12. You find it hard to make decisions because you distrust yourself.
  13. You feel as though you’re a much weaker version of yourself, and you were much more strong and confident in the past or when this person is not around.
  14. You feel guilty for not feeling happy like you used to.
  15. You’ve become afraid of “speaking up” or expressing yourself, so you stay silent instead.

Now I am sure at one time or another we have all dealt with these feelings periodically, because truthfully, relationships are difficult to maintain, cultivate and grow in order love remains.  The difference between an occasional bump in the relationship road and dealing with a narcissist is that gaslighting which is a way of life for them…  A means to an end and pattern developed into the fabric of all their relationships, past and present.  The saddest aspect of dealing with a narcissist is their inability to reflect internally, so everything is someone else’s fault.  They have a, “You broke it, so you fix it,” approach which kills any form of hope in growing together in love, where we learn together forgiveness and admitting when we are wrong or hurt someone.  Thankfully, we serve a mighty Father and He can do anything so we must never give up on someone.

Jesus told us in Mathew 5, “TO PRAY FOR THOSE WHO DISPITEFULLY USE YOU.”  There has never been a more appropriate time in my life to do just that, than in loving a narcissist.?

Co-dependents and Narcissists by very nature fuel one another, fanning the dysfunctional flame. Like I said before, if you are not sure – look to the patterns and trends of the relationship in question.  Narcissists are very skilled at what they do.  While you consider their feelings, they do not consider yours and if they do it comes only from a perspective of how you are affecting them.  Until delivered, they truly do not have the capability to consider your well being and only see vulnerability as a weakness.  Quickly, I want to go over a few tactics of “How” they manifest themselves, so I will share some examples of the tools they often use to leave you in a confused state.

TACTICS USED BY NARCISSISTS:

  • Discrediting you by making other people think that you’re crazy, irrational or unstable and fueled by emotions.
  • Using a mask of confidence, assertiveness, and/or fake compassion to make you believe that you “have it all wrong” so you begin to doubt yourself and believe their version of past events.
  • Changing the subject. The Gaslighter may divert the topic by asking another question, or making a statement usually directed at your thoughts, e.g. “You’re imagining things—that never happened!”  “No, you’re wrong, you didn’t remember right.”  “Is that another crazy idea you got from your (family member/friend)?”
  • Minimizing.  By diminishing how you feel and what you think, the Gaslighter gains more and more power over you, e.g. “Why are you being so sensitive?” “You don’t need to get angry over a little thing like that!” “I was just joking around, why are you taking things so seriously?”
  • Denial and avoidance by refusing to acknowledge your feelings and thoughts, the Gaslighter causes you to doubt yourself more and more.  For example, “I don’t remember that, you must have dreamed it!” “You’re lying, I never said that.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about, you’re talking in circles.”
  • Twisting and re-framing. When the Gaslighter confidently and subtly twists and re-frames what was said or done in their favor, they can cause you to second-guess yourself—especially when paired with fake compassion, making you feel as though you are “unstable,” “irrational,” or “emotional.”  For example, “I didn’t say that, I said _____” “I didn’t hit you, I just gave you a smack on the head—that’s what all good fathers do.”  “If you remember correctly, I was actually trying to help you.” Or “You don’t have any bruises, so it is not abuse.”
  • Isolating you in which they speak against and attempt to force you to cut ties with those who offer strength, comfort or clarity.

As we pray and seek our Lord Jesus, sometimes He delivers us from toxic relationships and other times He delivers us through them.?

There is no set law and it is individual and personal depending on what He is calling you to do, obedience is key here as you seek His face and wait patiently for Him to prompt you to act.  Whatever He calls you to do, He qualifies you to overcome and prevail.

I want to share a word from Him I received recently which really settled me, as I too face similar situations in my life occasionally.  One day in prayer He told me in my Spirit – “You do not have to agree with someone to love them.”  Prior to that precious word, I had been studying in Amos 3, where it says, unless two be agreed they cannot walk together.  The Lord was showing me it is possible to love someone and not come into agreement with their behaviors, this just goes a step beyond human love.  You can love someone from a distance or close, but above all love Jesus and keep and do His word, just as He commanded.

The number one preeminence of this teaching is that we remain in constant truth.  Not just some of the time, but all of the time.  If we allow ourselves to be sidelined by another’s perception of truth, we start to drift and waiver, questioning ourselves and ultimately questioning God.  My prayer is for all us to fully grow into the divine design of the Lord’s handiwork in our lives.  As He breaks and mends our hearts to place Him and Him alone on the throne of our hearts, void of all idols and no longer seeking the approval of man, we are in a more conditioned state of mind to be used by Him.  After all, we cannot serve two masters for in doing so we will eventually hate one and love the other.  He commands us to love all; Him first, everyone else second.?

I know this was a lot to ingest this time.  I trust the Lord will reveal to each one of us individually the path He has chosen us to walk, knowing with Him we can and do overcome all things.

Unless I get further direction from the Father, or people request we go deeper into this topic, I will put this to rest only to revisit it as we examine our walks with the Lord.  Like I said a few teachings ago when we began this journey, we could talk for hours and not reach the end of the truth in this matter.  To be honest, I am thankful this assignment is coming to a close, as it is one very close to my heart.

May the Lord Bless You in His Love,

 

Narcissist/Jezebel & Co-dependent/Ahab Study – Part 2

?CODEPENDENCY

We are continuing on our journey in Part 2 of the Narcissist –Codependent Bible Study, picking up where we left off, in which we studied 1 & 2 Kings, learning more about Jezebel & Ahab’s entrance, purpose and fate.  Most importantly, we gained clarity why this is important for us today…  Speaking of the Church of Thyatira, who is given but a space and time to repent for being seduced, tolerating and fornicating with Jezebel.  The Word says if they refuse to repent they will receive an additional burden, being cast into the Great Tribulation.  In addition, it is written, these are those who know the depths of satan.  On the flipside, for those of us who overcome and keep doing the works of Jesus until the end, we shall receive power over the nations as Jesus, the Morning Star is granted unto us.  [This is the fullness of Jesus operating in and through us here on the Earth].  In Part 1, we went over the context of these verses found in Revelation 2:18-29, if you missed that portion of the Study I encourage you to go back and review it for the purpose of setting a Biblical foundation.

Shall we get started? 

Today we will are going to touch a little more on the evidence of influence of Jezebel and Ahab intermingled with real life relationships.  Remember I said this Study will take a more life application turn and my goal is to make that turn today.  The truth is we all suffer at the hands of this destructive force in one way or another.  For some of us we have demands placed upon us which are tormenting and unattainable no matter how much we love and lay our lives down for another.  Narcissists continually raise the bar for they are broken vessels too.  As we break free from depending on another to complete us we will bind ever so close to Jesus, the One and Only created King, Who truly can complete us in fullness.  This alone is the sole purpose of this Study, although as we journey there will be much fruit produced in the breaking… It is all about Jesus and being one with Him as He and not another is placed upon the thrones of our hearts.

In our sin nature, the old creature has elements of characteristics of narcissism or rather love of self – vanity and setting oneself up as god…  It was foretold of this long ago by a term called VANITY.  Ecclesiastes, which we have studied recently, tells us ALL IS VANITY.  Vanity battles with Jesus getting the Glory He and only He deserves.  The enemy has tricked us, who are codependent, into believing a fable and here it is… “So and so, just cannot make it without us.”

We have much to repent for and I encourage you as the Holy Spirit reveals your hand in this dysfunction of impure love, just take it to the Lord with a humble heart, which is imperative to the breaking free process.

Are you feeling DESPERATE FOR LOVE FROM ANOTHER?  That is a number one red flag codependency is operating in your life.  This could be a parent, child, significant other, sibling or friend…  Thirsting after anyone, other than Jesus as a life source is a big no no.  Don’t lose hope but rather rejoice because truly it is exciting right now!  The Lord always reveals a truth about us before He releases us from it in order He get the Glory for deliverance and our testimony can encourage another…  We pay it forward this way!  We lay our lives down as a display for just what Jesus can do, even with a hot mess like me and you!  He turns our ashes into beauty and we go from hot mess to beautiful mess, continually in need of a Savior.  As we are honest about ourselves regarding our own shortcomings we will walk as we fully receive, we shall fully give… That is to give HIM and not our self – mixed in with Him when we pour out to others.  It shall be His way, void of self – charity which is pure unconditional love.

In this World there are GIVERS and TAKERS and in JESUS we become a balance of both, healthy and usable for His purpose abiding continually in Him.    I want to remind you there are those who GIVE IN ORDER TO GET.  From the outside they appear to have pure love however, their deeds point back to self and not to Jesus.  They have a giving nature but there are always strings attached such as…  Attention, appreciation with pats on the back, trying to win you over or expecting you to behave in a certain way in exchange for their deeds.  These are those who do not do their deeds in secret in order for the Father to reward them openly.  They want to be seen by others or are manipulating you to give a piece of yourself to act, think or come into agreement with them.  When faced with this situation… Just stay true to yourself and keep your eyes on Jesus because we are not to please man but only our Father in Heaven.

I will say during my research I found most professionals sadly offer no promise of hope for the people with Narcissism and they speak of such trying times for a codependent in recovery, however, I know our Lord and He can do anything so this is not our truth but rather the World’s truth, one we will not accept.  We must keep in mind Narcissism is our sin nature and you will see Codependency is sinful as well.  Anything that separates us from our Lord in any fashion is sinful.  Both tendencies are not our identity in Jesus.  Keeping that in mind, just because we may display a tendency to be one or the other or even a mix of both, it is a whole other ball game to be fully turned over to one or the other.  Granted we are not perfect, but we are being perfected!

Intimate relationships with stubborn, willful people can bring unhappiness to all concerned. Their self-will which has never been surrendered to God will seldom give in to those around them as they are void of compromise, often only considering themselves, lacking compassion for another unless of course they are affected in some way, in which at that point they will turn on the charm – still only giving to get. With unyielding obstinacy they keep demanding their own way and looking for every possible means and method of doing or having what they want. They will not listen to reason; they will not consider the feelings of others; they will not face the potential consequences of their intended actions. They believe that they are right and others are wrong, and they are determined to have everything their way. They obviously know very little of God’s love which “does not seek its own” (1 Cor. 13:5), but have only self-love which insists on its own rights and demands its own way. Those who live with or are connected to people like this eventually find themselves emotionally drained at the end of a tireless road from trying to please the “Unpleasable.” Does this sound familiar?  There is only one answer to the question in dealing with these people and that is through the grace of our Lord.  Remember, everything is purposeful and profitable for the perfecting of the Saints so we must war against wallowing in the mud of claiming victimization.  It is likely if we are in this situation we opened a door to the dysfunction due to some residue of past hurts with a desire to be wanted or needed and that is okay because what God brings you to, He will bring you through.  We often are seeking a quick work while He seeks us to demonstrate to us His will inside a process, in order we attain tools to assist another.

Moving on…

Of course, Ahab was just as self-willed as Jezebel, but with a different temperament. For one thing, he had willfully entered a marriage that was politically convenient, but contrary to every word from God. Sound familiar?  Weak, indecisive people who waiver like Ahab often want their own way just as much as headstrong, domineering people like Jezebel, but they react differently when they do not get it.  Remember the Lord said a double minded man is unstable in all his ways?  I guess you could say they both are very childish in nature. We have discussed this before and how there is a difference in being “Childlike” versus “Childish.”  Scripture tells us to be childlike and put away childish ways.

During conflict, the forceful ones rant and rave, strike out at those who stand in their way, throw fits and destroy things, the weak ones sulk and pout and fret like spoiled children. They may refuse to get out of bed and even refuse to eat. They just want to feel sorry for themselves and let everybody know how bad things are for them, they also display many physical ailments. All we really succeed in doing is letting people know how self-centered and immature we are when we react of our own will, rather than the respond via the Holy Spirit.

Self-will of either variety, the violent kind or the touchy irritable kind, can ruin a relationships.  Both are wrong because they say – “I am right and you are wrong.” The trouble often starts when someone infringes upon our rights and we feel dishonored.  It usually starts with a breakdown in communication and sadly continues on until there is a breakdown in the demonstration of love. Instead of letting the love and graciousness of Jesus Christ control us, our sinful natures take over and we go into our rage routine or sulk syndrome, whichever it is with us and it slowly but surely eats away at our relationship. And that inflexible self-will which has never been broken and yielded to God, may ultimately lead to much greater problems if not put into submission. It is at that point we will search to fulfill that need either by Jesus, Who is truly the only One Who can complete us, or get the need met elsewhere, which opens doors that are often more difficult to close later.

Awhile ago I spoke about the three phases of Adultery for this reason.  They were, Emotional, Physical and Spiritual.  Now we can see how it is all interlocked and woven together to bring us down.  If we step one foot out of the Father’s will, we invite the enemy in and he often will sift us as wheat by our own submission to him.

God wants to break our sinful, stubborn wills. He wants to conquer them with His love. The first step to victory is simply to admit that continually demanding our own way is disobedience to God’s Word, and therefore sin. Talk to the Lord about your struggles, openly and honestly. Tell Him frankly that you would rather have your own way than be unselfish and considerate of others, but acknowledge that it is contrary to His Word. Ask him to help you. Then by an act of your will, determine to do the loving thing. That step of faith will open the channel of God’s power to demonstrate in your life. He will not only enable you to carry through with your decision to act in love, but He will give you genuine delight in doing His will.  What He has poured into us, we will pour out to others as a display of Him and not self.

Let’s revisit Ahab and his vegetable garden for a moment. Jezebel found Ahab sulking in his bed and said to him, “How is it that your spirit is so sullen that you are not eating food?” (1 Kgs. 21:5). So he explained to her how Naboth refused to let him have his vegetable garden. She replied, “Do you now reign over Israel?” (1 Kgs. 21:7). In modern terms, that might sound more like, “What are you, a man or a mouse? Speak up! Don’t you know that you are the King. You can take anything you want.” With her demonic influence, Jezebel could not seem to understand that even the King in Israel was subject to the laws of God.

We discover how thoroughly this weak and wicked man was dominated by his overbearing wife when she said, “Arise, eat bread, and let your heart be joyful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite” (1 Kgs. 21:7). She planned to commit a hideous crime; she was going to pay two false witnesses to testify that they heard Naboth blaspheme God and the King, so that both he and his sons would be stoned to death and the King would be free to lay claim to his land (2 Kgs. 9:26). She was going to teach Ahab her philosophy of life: “Take what you want and destroy anyone who stands in your way.” And Ahab did not have the courage to stand up to her.

A man will do strange things when he is taunted and ridiculed by his wife and a wife needs to know she is safe from all harm, emotional and physical, if she is to give her heart over completely to a man.  In both cases trust is of the upmost of importance.  Men crave respect and women crave attentive compassion. Some men need to be encouraged and reminded to be sure, but not to do evil! A godly woman will challenge her partner to listen to God and live for Him, not encourage him to sin and definitely not to submit to her will, but the Lord’s alone.  Men often fail because they are not loving their partners in a way they desire to be loved in gentleness, but rather how they are convinced the woman needs love.  Lol…  Sa la vie…  Isn’t this the Genesis of it all anyway? ?

I do not want to fixate on just male/female here in this series because it expands much farther than one simple relationship which is in trouble.  As we glean understanding on what it means to be co-dependent and the why’s of it and where it came from, we will see it is vast and wide and not your fault traditionally.

What is Codependency?  On a broad sense it is when we become dependent on anything or anyone else, including self to have fulfillment in this Earth.  Codependency is laced with idolatry and vice versa.  That may go against your flesh and seem harsh but hear me out on this.  When we are operating out of a place of this stronghold, we often will crave to be needed and search out the Earth to find just that one who can validate us that we are worthy to be something of importance to just someone, which is an insatiable flesh desire.  Sadly, it is commonly all done under the guise of love and the Gospel, but it is unhealthy…  I call it the doormat syndrome. 

Jesus was not a doormat by any stretch of the imagination, so it is faulty thinking on our parts when we lay our lives down for another to gratify a need within us.  Jesus laid His life down for us to conquer death, not to meet some need He had lack of to be filled.  Remember when Jesus told Pilot – “You have no authority over Me other than that which is granted to you by My Father in Heaven”?  Jesus had authority to lay His life down and pick it back up again.  We on the other hand, may lay our lives down only to be trampled on over and over, defeated rather than defeating and conquering death in the footsteps of our Savior.  Jesus said HIS BURDEN IS EASY AND HIS YOKE IS LIGHT… Unfortunately, our burdens are heavy in which we cannot be the light.  But all of that is about to change – Praise the Lord!

My prayer is that we begin to see ourselves in the true identity we have in Jesus.  We are more than all the evil words spoken over us time and again.  The Lord is calling us to be sober minded, no longer a slave to the sins of the flesh and a huge part of this breaking free is letting go of all that has been spoken over us, which does not align with the Word of God Himself.  Co-dependency is synonymous with a sense of “Unworthiness.” We are told to pray to be worthy to stand before the Lord one day and as long as we believe we are unworthy, we cannot fully receive all He did on the cross for us.  I thank Him so intently for changing our mindset in truth.

Before we do a rundown of a list of characteristics of a co-dependent nature it is important you understand this is not your fault.  The majority of us with these tendencies were groomed from a very young age to be this way to the point it has become our norm.  The Lord is setting before us an open door no man can shut to freedom and in walking through it, the real you will be revealed to you, just as you were created in His image you will see Him in yourself, letting go of all graven images not profitable for the Kingdom.  Like I said, this is not your fault.  As we let Him do His perfect work in removing the idols from our hearts, it is both painful and beautiful at the same time.  His desire is to indwell us whole-heartedly, replacing that which we view as losses become our gain in Him.  He removes our heart of stone, replacing it with a heart of flesh, His heart begins pulsating through us in which we truly are sanctified and set apart.

I want to remind us that Codependency fuels Narcissism and vice versa.  They are a very unholy alliance so to speak.

Let’s talk a little more about Codependency...

Sometimes the Lord has to shake us awake, which is exactly what He did to me, prompting me to even begin exploring and now sharing my testimony of breaking free.  I am in a process and you too are being invited into a process, should you accept His offering.  A precious Sister in the Lord told me one day, “To stop internalizing man’s faulty impression of me.”  So now in turn I am saying the same to you.  The truth is only the Lord Himself knows the intentions of our hearts.  This is reserved for Him and Him alone.  It is true we may “Perceive,” another’s heart, but to truly know the intentions is not given over to man just yet, lest we judge before the time.  It would appear some hearts are hell bent on sin and others are purposed to not sin, knowing we all fall short and do sin – it is the intention the Father considers as He tries the reins of our hearts.

Whatever happened to me?  Have you all asked yourself that question?  I often think I am surely not as this person or that person describes me as… So, they have a faulty impression of me, they are viewing me through a veil of flesh – their own and therefore, they label me something I am not, same goes for you.  What is of the upmost importance here is that we begin to view ourselves not through the eyes of others, but rather through the eyes of Jesus.  Seeking Him and only Him for validation.  It is in this acceptance we turn a major corner to life everlasting.

We often wake up to find ourselves locked into a relationship which started out free loving and in turn was a facade all along.  We entered into this relationship for the sake of love, only to find we were the ones weighed in the balance found wanting.  At some point, we realize the situation needs to change and yet the other person sees we are the only one who needs to change and they are fine.  In this case there is a strong feeling of love pulling us to the person and because rejection is so familiar to us, we cling to that which is unhealthy out of fear.  When we have from a young age been trained to CARE FOR other’s needs rather than BE NURTURED AND CARED FOR, a part from that space in our hearts are void of love itself.  We basically become loved starved and a bad love becomes better than no love at all.  I have good news – Jesus came to set the captives (us) free!  He is calling us to overcome the love demands locking us in, so we can walk fully in Him in freedom.

I have compiled a list in which you may see yourself or a loved one in, through all or just a few of these points.  This is not a totality, but rather a guide to check our hearts against, seek the Lord and pray over for revelation of truth within us.  He is calling us to not only be gentle as a dove, but blossom into wisdom too.  I for one have been way to trusting and foolish in my childish ways, it is time to put those childish tendencies to rest.

Are you Codependent?

  • Caretaking: Codependents may:
    • think and feel responsible for other people for other people’s feelings, actions, choices, wants, needs, well-being, lack of well-being, and ultimate destiny.
    • feel anxiety, pity, and guilt when other people have a problem.
    • feel compelled almost forced to help that person solve the problem, such as offering unwanted advice, giving a rapid-fire series of suggestions, or fixing feelings.
    • feel angry when their help isn’t effective while continually anticipating other people’s needs.
    • wonder why others don’t do the same for them – the gap of reciprocating
    • find themselves saying yes when they mean no, doing things they don’t really want to be doing, doing more than their fair share of the work, and doing things other people are capable of doing for themselves.
    • tell themselves what they want and need is not important.
    • try to please others
    • find it easier to feel and express anger about injustices done to others, rather than injustices done to themselves.
    • feel satisfied when giving – need to be needed
    • feel insecure and guilty when somebody gives to them – based in competition.
    • find themselves drawn to needy people and needy people are drawn to them (Spiritual)
    • feel bored, empty, and worthless if they don’t have a crisis in their lives, a problem to solve, or someone to help.
    • abandon their routine to respond to or do something for somebody else – reacting not responding via the Holy Spirit
    • overcommit themselves often feeling chaotic in a hurry and pressured.
    • believe deep inside other people are somehow responsible for them.
    • blame others for the situation they are in or they way they feel
    • believe other people are making them crazy, angry, unappreciated and used
  • Low Self-Worth: Codependents tend to:
    • come from troubled, repressed, or dysfunctional families.
    • deny their family was troubled, repressed, or dysfunctional.
    • blame themselves for everything and have negative thoughts such as what they feel, think, look like or act like is wrong
    • get angry, defensive, self-righteous, and indignant when others blame and criticize them
    • get depressed from a lack of compliments (stroke deprivation) or reject compliments all together
    • feel different than the rest of the world, isolated – surrounding self by those who are safe and agreeable, avoiding confrontation at all costs
    • feel guilty about spending money on themselves or doing unnecessary or fun things for themselves.
    • feel rejection or that they are never good enough, take things personally, victim mentality
    • have been victims of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse, neglect, abandonment, or alcoholism – often grew up as a child caring for a parent or siblings
    • tell themselves they can’t do anything right, overly cautious to not allow self to make a mistake
    • wonder why they have a tough time making decisions – constantly look to others for advice
    • expect themselves and others to do everything perfectly.
    • wonder why they can’t get anything done to their satisfaction, often think I should have done this or that, carry much guilt and are ashamed of who they are feeling if anyone knew the real them they would be rejected
    • try to help other people live their lives instead of facing the fear of themselves
    • artificial feelings of self-worth from helping others – taking on the burdens of others as their own
    • wish good things would happen to them and yet believe only good things happen to other people not them
    • wish other people would like and love them while believing other people could never possibly love or like them so they try to prove they are worthy of another’s love – because of this they settle for being needed in place of being loved.
    • believe other people couldn’t possibly like and love them.
  • Repression: Many Codependents:
    • push their thoughts and feelings out of their awareness because of fear and guilt.
    • become afraid to let themselves be who they are.
    • appear rigid and controlled.
  • Obsession: Codependents tend to:
    • feel terribly anxious about problems and people being highly focused on Worldly events often seeking to be the first to know what is going on to validate self-importance
    • worry about the silliest things – obsessive to the point of controlling every detail
    • think and talk a lot about other people to the point of losing sleep
    • never find answers but always seeking knowledge
    • try to catch people in acts of misbehavior or continually checking on someone
    • feel unable to quit talking, thinking, and worrying about other people or problems to where all their energy is focused on problems
    • abandon their routine because they are so upset about somebody or something and often cannot get everything done on their list
  • Controlling: Many Codependents:
    • have lived through events and with people that were out of control, causing the codependents sorrow and disappointment and often anger inside
    • become afraid to let other people be who they are and allow events to happen naturally.
    • Refuse to see or deal with their fear of loss of control.
    • think they know best how things should turn out and how people should behave.
    • try to control events and people through helplessness, guilt, coercion, threats, advice-giving, manipulation, or domination and eventually fail in their efforts or provoke people’s anger, rubbing others the wrong way because you know best
  • Denial: Codependents tend to:
    • ignore problems or pretend they aren’t happening or minimize problems to cope
    • tell themselves things will be better tomorrow in order to not face the issue at hand, always kicking issues down the road to deal with
    • stay busy so they don’t have to think about things.
    • get confused in the chaos they create are depressed and frequently sick
    • go to doctors and get tranquilizers or use alcohol or drugs to medicate away life to relax
    • became workaholics to perform
    • spend money compulsively.
    • overeat.
    • pretend those things aren’t happening, either.
    • Compulsive to watch problems get worse.
    • believe lies.
    • lie to themselves.
    • wonder why they feel like they’re going crazy.
  • Dependency: Many Codependents:
    • don’t feel happy, content, or peaceful with themselves.
    • look for happiness outside themselves to fulfill the void within
    • latch onto whoever or whatever they think can provide happiness, seeking pleasure from others
    • feel terribly threatened by the loss of anything or person they think provides their happiness.
    • didn’t feel love and approval from their parents.
    • believe other people can’t or don’t love them.
    • desperately seek love and approval, often from those who are incapable of loving them
    • believe other people are never there for them, equating love with pain
    • feel they need people more than they want them.
    • try to prove they’re good enough to be loved.
    • don’t take time to see if other people are good for them.
    • worry whether other people love or like them.
    • don’t take time to figure out if they love or like other people so get entangled in negative relationships
    • center their lives around other people and worry they will be abandoned by them
    • look to relationships to provide all their good feelings.
    • lose interest in their own lives when they love someone ignoring others
    • don’t believe they can take care of themselves while caring for other people continually
    • stay in relationships that don’t work or are bad for them, tolerating abuse or unfaithfulness because they are unworthy to receive healthy forms of love
    • feel trapped in relationships unable to break free and once they leave they seek another relationship right away that is often the same bad pattern
    • wonder if they will ever find love or be loved
    • Idolize others and have certain people they will never say NO to, lack of boundries
  • Poor Communication: Codependents frequently:
    • Blame, threaten, coerce, beg, bribe or advise others
    • don’t say what they mean and don’t mean what they say, lack of follow through
    • don’t take themselves seriously or feel others take them seriously or they go the complete opposite and take themselves too seriously having a lack of joy
    • ask for what they want and need indirectly–sighing, for example
    • find it difficult to get to the point and not sure what the point is
    • gauge their words carefully to achieve a desired effect.
    • try to say what they think will please people or provoke others
    • try to say what they hope will make people do what they want them to do.
    • eliminate the word “no” from their vocabulary
    • talk too much, don’t let others get a word in and monopolize the conversation
    • talk about other people.
    • avoid talking about themselves, their problems, feelings, and thoughts.
    • say everything is their fault or that nothing is their fault
    • wait to express their opinions until they know other people’s opinions because they believe their opinion does not matter
    • lie to protect and cover up for people they love.
    • lie to protect themselves.
    • have a difficult time expressing their emotions honestly, openly, and appropriately or refuse to assert themselves
    • think most of what they have to say is unimportant and frequently apologize for bothering someone
    • begin to talk in cynical, self-degrading, or hostile ways.
  • Weak Boundaries: Codependents frequently:
    • say they won’t tolerate certain behaviors from other people but yet they do
    • gradually increase their tolerance until they can tolerate and do things they said they never would.
    • let others hurt them and keep letting themselves being hurt by the same person the same way and wonder why they hurt so badly.
    • complain, blame, and try to control while they continue to stand there.
    • finally get angry and over react
    • become totally intolerant.
  • Lack Of Trust: Codependents:
    • don’t trust themselves, their feelings, decisions, other people while at the same time they trust people they shouldn’t
    • think God has abandoned them and often lose faith and trust in God – blaming Him for their own doing and open doors they shouldn’t
  • Anger: Many Codependents:
    • feel very scared, hurt, and angry and surround themselves by people who are the same
    • are afraid of their own anger or afraid of other’s anger and blame others when they are angry
    • think people will go away if anger enters the picture and are afraid they cause anger in others or punish people when they get angry with them
    • feel controlled by other people’s anger while they repress their own anger
    • cry a lot, get depressed, overeat, get sick, do mean and nasty things to get even, act hostile, or have violent temper outbursts wondering if they will ever be free of anger
    • have been shamed for feeling angry and place guilt on themselves for getting angry
    • feel increasing amounts of anger, resentment, and bitterness.
    • feel safer with their anger than with hurt feelings.
  • Sex Problems: Some Codependents:
    • are caretakers in the bedroom or refuse it altogether because of anger
    • have sex when they don’t want to but prefer to be held, nurtured and loved since it is void outside the bedroom
    • try to have sex when they’re angry or hurt to fulfill a void
    • are afraid of losing control so do not enjoy sex
    • have a difficult time asking for what they need in bed.
    • withdraw emotionally from their partner or feel repulsed by sex
    • force themselves to have sex, anyway out of obligation to meet another’s needs
    • reduce sex to a technical act minimizing that which God created to be pure
    • wonder why they don’t enjoy sex or have lost interest altogether
    • make up reasons to abstain rather than taking ownership and setting a boundary
    • wish their sex partner would die, go away, or sense the codependent’s feelings.
    • have strong sexual fantasies about other people, have an emotional or physical affair
    • seek porn as an outlet to avoid intimacy
  • Miscellaneous: Codependents tend to:
    • be extremely responsible or irresponsible lacking balance
    • become martyrs, sacrificing their happiness and that of others for causes that don’t require sacrifice.
    • find it difficult to feel close to people to have fun or be spontaneous
    • have an overall passive response to codependency–crying, hurt, helplessness.
    • have and overall aggressive response to codependency–violence, anger, dominance.
    • combine passive and aggressive responses going to and fro
    • Indecisive or emotionless
    • laugh when they feel like crying.
    • stay loyal to their compulsions and people even when it hurts.
    • be ashamed about family, personal, or relationship problems.
    • be confused about the nature of the problem so keep it hidden
    • cover up, lie, and protect the problem.
    • not seek help because they tell themselves the problem isn’t bad enough, or they aren’t important enough.
    • wish the problem would go away on it’s own
  • Progressive: In the later stages of Codependency, Codependents may:
    • feel lethargic, withdrawn or depressed
    • experience a complete loss of daily routine and structure.
    • abuse or neglect their children and other responsibilities.
    • feel hopeless.
    • begin to plan their escape from a relationship they feel trapped in.
    • think about suicide.
    • become violent.
    • become seriously emotionally, mentally, or physically ill.
    • experience an eating disorder (over- or under eating).
    • become addicted to alcohol and other drugs.

My goodness that is a long list.  I am so thankful for Jesus right now…  Aren’t you?  I thank Him for holding up a mirror to our brokenness so we can be truly set free.  Whether you saw yourself in just one of the characteristics I described or in every single one of them, He is offering us to drink of Him, where life everlasting is found.  In doing so, just like the woman at the well who had a divine appointment that day, we have one set before us this day.  Chances are most of us at one time or another has looked for love in all the wrong places.  Yesterday is gone and today is the Day of Salvation.  Before we pray, lets understand these characteristics do not define us and who we are, unless we embrace them rather than Jesus.  Once we ask Him to really come into us and dwell in our hearts He will.  We must repent for our willful sins and childish ways.  We are all products of our environments up until a point when He says, “It is finished.”  Today lets be finished of all these past hurts and pain, leaving it all at the cross, so we truly go and sin no more.?

 

Let’s pray?

Heavenly Father we thank You for delivering us from all evil.  We pray Your Kingdom come and Your will be done in our lives from this day forward.  We confess with our hearts for that which we do to sin against You and how we have given ourselves to others in ways that are not in one accord with Your will in our lives.  Forgive us Lord for guarding our sin, denying it or protecting that which is not aligned with Your word for the sake of looking as one who can save another or even to the point of saving ourselves.  We lay it all down before You Lord never to pick this faulty expression of love up again.  We thank You for the indwelling of Your precious Son and Holy Spirit Who finished all at the Cross in order for us to walk freely as Your children of Light.  Help us Lord to point only to Him and thank You for showing us mercy when we try to save another in His place.  Lord we submit to that which You have planned for us and ask You to close doors which are not of You, to open doors for ministry that are assigned by You and to give us wisdom to know the difference.  Infuse our relationships Lord God with Your love and divine order so pure love exists in ways unimaginable.  We are sorry Father for times we have manipulated, gotten angry or frustrated with the ones you set on our path to set healthy boundaries with for the sake of pure love.  We have so tainted what love actually is we need Your eyes to see the truth in each relationship we have so we are manifesting Your light and not self.  We are trusting You to give us strength to endure all things in Jesus for the Glory of His Name.  Help us to make our yes mean yes and our no mean no.  We are all broken vessels Lord, but if it be Your will mend us and make us whole so we can serve You to the fullest.  We break every soul tie in Jesus Name that is outside of Your courts and bind that unholy alliance only to loose it in Heaven.  And for that which is Holy in Your sight Lord we bind in Heaven and loose it here on Earth in our own lives.  Thank You Lord for creating within us a pure heart.  We humbly ask all this in the Name of Jesus. Amen and Amen.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.

So that is all for now on the discussion of Codependency, however, later in the series we will revisit this topic as we go deeper still into the fueling exchange done by Codependents and Narcissists so we can explore setting boundaries with others, which is the Genesis of a healthy relationship .  In Part 3 of this series, we meet we will begin to uncover narcissism and the characteristics that they carry, stirring up much pain and regret, because they themselves suffer much pain and regret.

 God Bless you in His Love,

?Angela ~ Marked By Heaven

Narcissist/Jezebel & Co-dependent/Ahab Study – Part 1

?What a journey this has been, containing many months of breaking, until recently not even knowing the why’s of what I was walking out and yet continually seeking Jesus for understanding, covering and guidance.

My prayer and desire is that you be comforted with the same words and truth, by which I was comforted, in order to continue comforting others, by which you are comforted.

The main focus of this series of study is going to be receiving Godly instruction and truth in reference to Narcissist/Jezebel ~ Codependent/Ahab.  Some of you likely are  thinking you know about this already, however, I challenge you to pray and open your hearts to receive what I am going to be sharing, because truthfully not too long ago I was sitting in your seat right now.

I can guarantee you 100% every last one of you have dealt with or are dealing with and maybe even have exhibited traits resembling a narcissist or codependent, no matter how young or old you are.  It wasn’t until recently did the Holy Spirit reveal to me how they are tied into oppression/possession or basically being influenced by a spirit of Jezebel or Ahab.  The truth is, until something is revealed – How can you repent of such a thing?  You cannot…  And this is where my journey began.  I was sick to death of being controlled, manipulated, pressed upon, drained, being told how I felt or should feel, which negated my God-given gift to have an opinion, being self-labeled as a “Giver,” basically I was drained, having nothing left to give.  The list could go on and on – which we will explore more in depth later… But for now, let’s just say the Lord did not want me DEPENDENT or rather CO-DEPENDENT anymore on anyone but HIM.

One day He gave me a Scripture which shook me up a little, it was Galatians 1:10 –

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

I saw the fault in my ways in this…  I saw how I often try to PERSUADE MEN and I also saw how often I seek to have the APPROVAL OF MEN.  It was on that day I began my journey to freedom and I let Him lead me all the way – into total freedom and Who He sets free is free indeed.  Looking back now I can see how this Co-dependency (Worldly term) was woven into the fabric of my soul from a very young age – like a web too far reaching and too complex for any man to deliver me from.  It was me and it was our Lord Jesus.  This was His doing, that none should boast in that He solely would get the Glory He so deserves.  All He required of me was to let go of all I had been told, taught, shown, etc… By man (because it is all vanity – but that is a whole other story within a story) Speaking of which, the driving force behind Rituals is vanity the Lord showed me.  On a side note, if people saw what I saw – You would never demand or persuade anyone ever to worship, take communion, give an offering or be delivered again – which is vile to the Father and stinks in His nostrils, and is a primary reason why Jesus is coming back to set in place and teach His own His true feasts.

Did you know it says in Mark 14:25 that Jesus will never drink of the fruit of the vine until that DAY WHEN HE SHALL DRINK IT IN THE NEW KINGDOM?  I digress…. I am just saying that we do so much out of vanity convinced it is according to what the Lord would have us do. Forgive me for the rabbit trail…

Back to the study at hand~

My journey started when I was so broken inside I relentlessly called out to my Lord to help me, not to mention all the others I called upon and so graciously tried to help me and loved me through it.  The pain did not go away until I began to get the understanding of why it was there in the first place.  Sooooo, I was comforted by the Lord, gained His wisdom in order to comfort another and periodically, since only He can actually change a heart, we will pray together for Him to do a mighty complete work in your life as well.

There are two types of creation.  Obedient children and disobedient children.

The disobedient children have chosen the way of Cain, to walk according to their own ways in succinct rebellion, having their conscience seared with a hot iron, no longer feeling the pull to repent.  Simply put, they may speak of Jesus but refuse to live a life laid down in submission – not loving Him enough to do as He says.

Today I am talking to those who truly desire to walk according to the precepts of Jesus in full submission to His will, His ways, reflecting the character of Him.  I am a firm believer that we cannot lay down something until it is revealed, once revealed the Lord will give us grace to overcome all things.  Obedient children receive the Lord’s conviction in their hearts which is power to repent – to actually go and sin no more.

So there I was… He had showed me a truth about me and yet I had no knowledge to back up the characteristics I was displaying and the forces coming at me by the hand of others who attempted to mold me into something I was not and yet their demands made me feel as if I was drowning – no matter how hard I poured into them, nothing changed.  I knew that day, I was the one who needed to change.  When we change it forges a change in those close to us.  Amazing how God works all things together for the good this way.

I began to research all I could about the characteristics of the Worldly term – Co-dependent, which we will go over.  This whole process has been so Holy Spirit lead I find it difficult to articulate all He was doing with Earthly words.  While in the process of this discovery I had an amazing revelation…  Co-dependents feed off of Narcissists and in turn Narcissists glean fuel from a Co-dependent.  This will become much more clear to you when we get further into our Study.   That day as I was standing in the kitchen, the Lord spoke to me in my Spirit saying He laid out an example for me in the Bible…  Jezebel and Ahab.  It was at that moment I had that which I needed to share with others – Scriptural proof of this insistent Spiritual entanglement.  As we move forward we will explore more about this entanglement and the strong presence of Jezebel/Narcissists today.

It is so important of a truth that it is even mentioned in the Book of Revelation, being something the Church of Thyatira must overcome in the last days.

Revelation 2:18-29

 18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

28 And I will give him the morning star.

29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Jezebel is a demonic force at work in the World today.  This influence is honestly more than any of us can handle alone and actually it would be detrimental to even attempt such a feat.  There is one way and one way only to defeat this foe, whether you are suffering from such tendencies yourself or under its influence and that is to NOT KNOW THE DEPTHS OF SATAN’S SPEECH, HOLD FAST TO JESUS UNTIL HE COMES AND TO KEEP DOING THE WORKS OF OUR LORD UNTIL THE END.  I believe this is the exact time we are living in prophetically right now… Those under her influence (mind you, this is INSIDE the Church) have a small space in time to repent.

The first mention of Jezebel/Ahab in the 1 Kings when Elijah faced this demonic force.  LET’S GET ONE THING STRAIGHT RIGHT AWAY – JEZEBEL DOES NOT ONLY REFER TO WOMEN.  This false truth itself was born out of the Spirit of Jezebel to remain hidden.  The only reason this entity is referred to as a female is because it multiplies and grows wherever it is allowed to function.  Please do not tolerate her operating – if you hear someone speak the false doctrine of only women can operate likened to a Jezebel Spirit – expose it as such – a lie.  I would encourage you to read 1 and 2 Kings in full via the Holy Spirit to glean full understanding of the scope of the destruction birthed out of such darkness.  For the sake of time I am just going to paraphrase what is found in Scripture.

Beforehand, I want to go over the fruits of this evil Spirit’s labor mentioned in Galatians 5:19-21 – which are:  ADULTRY, FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, LASCIVIOUSNESS, IDOLATRY, WITCHCRAFT, HATRED, VARIANCE, EMULATIONS, WRATH, STRIFE, SEDITIONS, HERESIES, ENVY, MURDER, DRUNKENESS, REVELLINGS – which in doing ANY OF THESE THINGS you will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  Mainly because we cannot serve two masters, the Word says we will love one and hate the other.  Committing such acts makes one so entwined deeply with Satan, his is the Kingdom one serves during that time.  Thankfully, our Father is so merciful there is granted a space to repent.  I often wonder when that space in time will be up?  That day and hour only He knows, which is why we are to work out our salvation daily with fear and trembling.  Praise God.

Back to 1 & 2 Kings, only because it is so important to see the truth in how Jezebel and Ahab fuel and feed one another.  After we lay the Biblical foundation we will get into more life application resources and tools which apply to us each and every day.  When we do this, trust me, you are going to be amazed at how much this falsehood has touched you throughout your life and likely still does today.

Like with anything… Once your eyes have been opened you become so much more aware of the subtly of the ways the enemy seeks to destroy and you see just how he has used you and others to accomplish his will.  We can be so ever grateful for the gift of repentance in this fashion for it truly is a gift.  Now that I am more aware I can cast this chain off of me, no longer serving his kingdom.  However, having such wisdom at times does bring with it a burden so to speak because I find myself seeing it beguiling and influencing many others.  Knowing it is not my job to point out what another is stuck in, but rather point to the One Who does save – Our Lord Jesus, as I said earlier this truly is a deliverance which is intimate between Him and the individual.

Let’s take a look at the Queen of Narcissism and the King Co-dependent spoken of in Scripture, that being – Jezebel and Ahab. 

King David had been absent from the scene of Hebrew history for about 135 years when this story opens. His great kingdom, enlarged and more richly endowed by his son Solomon, had been fractured into two weakened fragments. The southern kingdom of Judah was being ruled by his descendants, while the northern kingdom of Israel suffered under a succession of wicked men at the helm.

Ahab is introduced to the pages of Scripture with these shocking words: “And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him” (1 Kgs. 16:30). He had the dubious distinction of being the most wicked king who reigned over Israel up until his day. “He married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshiped him” (1 Kgs. 16:31).

“Sidonians” were people on the Mediterranean coast who occupied the great cities of Tyre and Sidon. With the ever-present menace of Syria and the growing threat of Assyria, Ahab decided that he needed an alliance with this neighboring nation, so he made a treaty with the king of Phoenicia and sealed it by marrying his daughter. That is how Jezebel happened to move to Samaria, the capital of Israel, and there is only one way to describe it — a whirlwind hit Israel.

The king of Phoenicia was not only the political leader of his people, he was also the high priest of their religion, as his name Ethbaal implies. Jezebel had grown up steeped in the worship of Baal and his female consort, Astarte. Baal was considered to be the god of the land. He owned it, they said, and he controlled its weather and the increase of its crops and cattle. Jezebel’s mother was considered to be the mother-goddess of fertility. So idols of both her parents stood side by side in their temples and were worshiped by priests and temple prostitutes with lewd dances and sacred orgies.  In times of crisis such as famine, they slashed themselves and even sacrificed their children to appease the gods and implore their help.

Jezebel was fanatical about her religion. The worship of Jehovah must have seemed dull and commonplace by comparison, and she was determined to change it. She was a headstrong, self-willed, domineering woman, and with a moral weakling for a husband, she had little trouble getting her way. She brought 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of her mother and housed them in the palace, and fed them in royal style. Their duties were to promote the worship of Baal throughout the land.

Not satisfied to establish her religion in Israel, Jezebel sought to stamp out every remnant of Jehovah worship and to kill every true prophet of God. She had to have things completely her way, and she almost succeeded. Some prophets survived by compromising their convictions and turning into “yes” men for Ahab. Another group of 100 were hidden in a cave and fed secretly by a Godly servant of Ahab named Obadiah. But Elijah was the only one courageous enough to stand up openly against Jezebel’s wickedness. God gave him a great victory when he called down fire from heaven upon Mount Carmel. The prophets of Baal were slain and it looked as though the nation would turn back to God. But Jezebel was not finished with her sinister work. She swore in her rage that she would kill Elijah, and he ran for his life, collapsed in the wilderness and pleaded with God to let him die. It was the lowest point in the Godly prophet’s great career. And Baal worship lived on, dragging the nation to new depths of degradation. This stubborn, headstrong, self-willed wife of Ahab brought disruption and distress to Israel for years to come.

Jezebel often manipulated her husband Ahab using his weakened state she enforced upon him as yes another tactic of control, often taunting him that he was weak. Sadly, these two were self-willed to the end. I guess you could say – she used all sorts of manipulation possible to get her husband to accomplish her dirty work without getting any blood on her own hands. Elijah met Ahab in the vineyard and pronounced God’s judgment on both him and his wife for their wicked deeds. King Jahosaphat was visiting and asked Ahab “Is there not yet a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of him?” (1 Kgs. 22:7). And Ahab replied, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah” (1 Kgs. 22:8). So Micaiah was called, and although he knew his life was in danger, he spoke what God told him. Israel would be scattered on the mountains like sheep without a shepherd (1 Kgs. 22:17). As we might expect, Ahab rejected Micaiah’s prophecy and had him cast into prison. He was going to have what he wanted and do what he pleased, regardless of God’s will.

But it didn’t work out quite like he planned. Ahab knew the Syrians would be after him personally, so he removed his royal garments and disguised himself as a regular soldier. “Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor” (1 Kgs. 22:34). That soldier did not know he was shooting at the king, but his arrow penetrated the narrow slit between the pieces of Ahab’s armor. Very few bowmen would have been that accurate. It was obvious that God was guiding that arrow, and Ahab’s self-will ended in his untimely death.

Jezebel outlived him by almost fourteen years. Jehu, the captain of Israel’s army, was to be the instrument of divine discipline in her case. After slaying King Jehoram, the son of Ahab, he rode to Jezreel. Scripture says, “When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it, and she painted her eyes and adorned her head, and looked out the window” (2 Kgs. 9:30). She knew what was about to happen, but she was going to die like a queen, arrogant, self-willed and unrepentant to the end. She shouted abuses at Jehu from her upstairs window, but at Jehu’s command, several of her servants threw her down, “And some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall and on the horses, and he trampled her under foot” (2 Kgs. 9:33). It was a violent death, but it illustrated again the seriousness of sinful self-will in opposition to God.  Jezebel and Ahab had two sons and one daughter and unfortunately, these same curses were carried out continually, generation to generation so their influence lived on, even to this day.

God only knows how many generations will be affected by our sinful self-will, our insistence on having things our way instead of God’s. This shocking story ought to provide the incentive we need to put off every remnant of self-will and yield ourselves fully to do the will of God.  This is simply a brief overview to the recollection of such evil operations.  Like I said, I encourage you to read 1 and 2 Kings to fully grasp the truth in Spirit.

Next time we are going to glean wisdom from this Old Testament demonstration while pulling it into the here and now so it is applicable in our lives today as a useful tool to walk in full display of Jesus on Earth, as a true witness to Him above all else.  In the upcoming broadcasts we are going to deeply cover the characteristics of both Narcissists and Codependents, specifically how they weave and feed one another and learn to be free in Jesus – not for a moment or a day, but set free forever, in order we are complete in Him, having our identity in Jesus and Him alone.  The fruit of this freedom is we shall truly walk in love towards all, loving Him first, being of One Accord with Him and one another for the Glory of His Name.

In Part 2 of this Bible Study we will begin to explore CO-DEPENDENCY and how it influences us and seduces us to tolerate the operation of Jezebel operating in our own lives through NARCISSISTS.

God Bless you in His Love,

?Angela~Marked By Heaven

Found wanting – Coming face to face with the Father’s Will

?No ear tickling today – trust me, I am still feeling the bruises of conviction in this one.  I don’t know why the Lord keeps laying these hard to receive messages on my heart lately.  The only thing I can imagine is that I have had this unfeigned delusional thinking of what holiness actually is and was so absorbed with being holy I was overlooking the only One Who is Holy to a point I was deceiving myself.

No matter who we are, where we have come from or where we are headed, the simple truth remains at some point in time we have been found “Wanting…”  We have been fearfully and wonderfully made and a piece to that design has been missing, hidden and left vacant for a very special purpose.

All our lives we have had situations that have come up that we never would have chosen or even some that we actually did chose that ended up being bad for us.  I often say I have – “Looked for love in all the wrong places.”  And if honest, many of you can relate.  Did you know that others can touch your heart, but only God can fill it?  With that being said – We have a void only HE can fill and that too is very purposed.

The truth is none of us are totally complete yet, although we are in a process to wholeness, we are not whole – not yet, but that time is surely right around the corner.  Which is nice and all… But what about today?  We know hope deferred makes the heart sick… And we look forward to THAT DAY, but in all reality we have to live IN TODAY, not the promises of tomorrow.  Actually, tomorrow is not promised to anyone.

I share with you all in the fact I have had one dream after another not filled, promises broken time and again, leaving my heart shattered into a million pieces.  There were actually times not so long ago that my heart actually hurt physically due to the actions of another.  Physically in pain – not sure if any of you have experienced that sort of pain or not, but if you haven’t… I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.

Jesus does bind up the wounds of the broken hearted.  But are wounds purposed?  I say yes and I also will share why I say yes to that question.  It seemed like every single time I was in heart break pain and reached out to someone quite often all they did is rebuke the pain or seeping of the issue – never addressing or edifying the pain I was actually going through.  And this is true for pain inflicted upon us by another or our own selves – I have been in pain from both.   We often have such deep seated pain we will go to extremes to self-comfort and “Feel” better.   I, myself, have been there done this – have the t-shirt to prove it!  In coming full circle now I am beginning to realize all those times I actually was undergoing being, “Weighed in the balance, only to be found wanting…”  But wanting what?  Who?  Why did this happen to me?  And so on as the question flood me like a river in a sea of regret…

If, what the Lord says is true and I beyond a shadow of a doubt believe His word… Then I know in truth He shall supply all our needs – mine and yours – according to His riches in Glory.  Who’s glory?  His!  The healing often [emotional or physical] does not come or is released but not received due to our Faith.  This is not to say we do not have Faith to believe Jesus is Lord and Savior, but oftentimes do not feel worthy to receive of Him fully in a particular area to be made whole and complete.

So just who is the block to the healing is it me or is it not granted?  I am seeing wholeness not received is on my end and not the Lord’s.

But back to these wounds.  I do not like to talk about them because the wounds may be gone now but how many in the Church treated me as unclean for even having them in the first place has a residue which keeps me guarded.  I often wondered why they assumed they had FAITH to be healed themselves and yet I could see their wounds, but they could only see mine and not their own.  I really never shared what I saw, but I did pull away and closed up to them because I do have Faith in my Lord – just like you all do.  To assume someone does not have Faith can be very hurtful and push others away, a lesson I learned long ago.

When our Lord does something it is TOTAL AND PERMANENT.  I wasn’t ready to only give Him glory yet, is a piece of why man’s ways or my own did not work, plus many other variables in which I won’t share them all right here and right now.  But if we are honest, we may be CONVINCED the healing took place and even brag about it, but deep inside we know all that was for show… Because there were those two missing elements:  TOTAL and PERMANENT.  I often wonder why no one comes back to say… I guess I wasn’t healed after all, pride I suppose plays a major part in us not admitting when we were wrong.  Just like repent means to never do again – When God heals, that ailment never comes again.  Can you see now how often we have glorified self in the healing rather than Him?

Wounds turn into scars when healed and scars do not hurt, they are simply a reminder of what He did for us with His saving grace.  Jesus kept His scars as a demonstration of death defeated and will even show them to others one day saying, “My friends did this to Me.”  In a similar way we can relate – we have scars from wounds that Jesus healed and our friends did them to us, but in turn HE FILLED us with His love removing the pain done by another.  In such a fashion our scars become the very testimony of HIM, just as His scars testify to the Father…. So very beautiful, indeed.

Anyway…  My purpose is not to even share that much about healing today, just feeling lead to expose a piece that is missing within even me, that is purposed and planned out already.?

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were in the fire and I love how they proclaimed – EVEN IF… EVEN IF they were not delivered, they would not bow down to another God.  EVEN IF…  Can you imagine?  The Lord showed me how it took them more faith to get into a fire NOT KNOWING if their deliverance would come than it would have if they got right in, knowing they would not get burned.  Let that sink in a minute…  In many ways, this resembles us.  We are in the fire right now in various areas of our lives – but listen to me – Your faith is mighty, because when others would have turned from Him a long time ago or avoided being purified all together – YOU didn’t.  Every day you are saying…. EVEN IF… You will not turn away from Him.  Some of you have heard me say how sometimes, the Lord delivers you from the fire and sometimes it is THROUGH the fire you are deliveredEven if… Takes a stronger Faith and grows intimacy with Him.  His children never resist the fire, knowing intimacy and trust is gained through fire.

Daniel 5:27 says… You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.

  • WANTING in Hebrew means:  Deficient, lacking, to be without, to come up short
  • BALANCE in Hebrew means:  To be obedient, to hear the Lord in prayer, to perceive

As I began to study and seek the Lord on this Scripture He lead me to… I was so in awe at how perfect His plan is and began to gain understanding of why it is such a timely word for us today.

Our Nation is WANTING, the Church Body is WANTING and even you and I are WANTING.  But WANTING WHAT?  Do we even know?  Is it just that next fix that we desire and want, just to get by and make it another day?  Or are we WANTING something greater, more permanent, totally fulfilling and complete?  Unless we lay down all those “False comforts” that are not everlasting or sometimes He Himself strips them away… We will not stop seeking outside sources to fulfill only what ONE can – that being, the Lord.

By now I believe we can all admit we are lacking in some area of our lives and we have been to:  Doctors, Preachers, Brothers/Sisters in the Lord, watched every Youtube we could get our eyes on, listened to every sermon out there pertaining to this ache in our hearts, sent emails and responded to emails, prayed alone, prayed with another and prayed in a group.  If awards were given out for “Seeking”… we would have a gold medal!

Do you all know why prayers are hindered?  Like with all things – let’s go to the Word and find out.

In 1 Peter 3:7-12 it tells us why many prayers are hindered:

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

11 Let him eschew (refrain from) evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Psalm 34 basically says the same thing:

 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

16 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

22 The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

So we find here in these passages, once again, that before we go to the Father and request anything, which is basically what a prayer is…  We must first make sure our hearts are pure, by really seeking to see if our intentions are righteous before Him.  Vengeance, shame, anger, ego, frustration, unconfessed sin and the like will hinder our prayers.

Today we are going to the Book of Daniel where the Word gives account to what happens when one is weighed in the balance only to be found wanting.

The story unfolds in Daniel Chapter 5 where King Belshazzar was throwing a huge feast/party but the exact verse we are referencing today is verse 27:  Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting.

What happened that night was a party not like any other, because a large hand appeared for every eye to see that delivered a most personal message to King Belshazzar – it was a sure word, a command really encased around a rebuke – it is practically one of the sternest demonstrations of sowing and reaping in the Bible and what happens when one stays in rebellion regardless of their assumed position, with the Lord on High.  The days of his kingdom had been numbered, all which he treasured above the Lord would be taken from him, a prophecy was given and that night he died – at the command of the Father.

Just as he was weighed in the balances, we too will be weighed in the eternal balances of God.  So today as we go over why this king was found wanting, I pray we will check our own hearts and ask the Holy Spirit to show us in ways we also sit in a place of wanting and in lack, should we too be weighed in the balance today.  This is an opportunity to be humbly repentant and fully delivered and healed and most importantly FILLED BY HIM.

This King had three charges against him by the Lord.

First – He dishonored God’s vessels (vs. 2) He did this by exalting himself and dishonoring God by dishonoring His chosen vessels.  So if we do not honor the vessels the Lord has sent to us we too would be found wanting.  God’s people are His vessels and what we do unto them we actually do unto Him.  If we do not put other people’s interests before our own, when our actions are motivated by what is best for us rather than another.  Some other ways in which we may dishonor the brethren would be by not imparting grace with our words, actions or forgiveness.  We are told this actually grieves the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 4:30.  Husbands dishonor the Lord when they do not treat their wives with an understanding heart and in a delicate way that honors them.  This is not to say you have to understand your wife, but rather you gently entreat them with kindness out of your heart.  The same is true for all the brethren, one to another as we have been qualified to love others more than ourselves.

So if we were to stand before our Maker today and be weighed in the balance – we must ask ourselves…  Would we be found wanting in this area by dishonoring any of His vessels?  If so, we must humble ourselves quickly and HONOR GOD by honoring one another in brotherly love.  Every word we speak and every action we take it is good to ask ourselves – How would I feel if so and so was doing or saying that to me or about me?  Those with empathy and compassion consider such things regularly and naturally in every interaction with others.

Second – After that, this King was drunk and set up a standard for others to be in drunkenness and not only that – he also praised other gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone – praising and giving place to things that had no power over God’s power – representing them as if they did.  In doing so he discounted the Sovereignty of the Father as being the only one who saves, sustains life and controls everyone’s steps.  Before we quickly brush this off as if we would not also be found wanting in this area let’s consider a few examples.  Although, we may not put up a graven image in the natural – do we participate in such abominations in our hearts?  Paul tells us in Colossians 3:5 that we are to put to death anything fleshly like sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness – calling them all idols.  When we have a deep yearning to possess something or make it ours, it permeates our minds and becomes an idol in nature.  This is also true when we want something another person already has… This could be a job, a placement, a partner, things or even a ministry.  This OBJECT will in turn become our main focus and becomes an idol because God is the One Who should permeate our minds, not anyone or anything else.  If there is something in our lives and we just can’t seem to be content without it – it is an idol.  The Lord Alone should be our joy, peace and happiness.  Just like this king – and like we have discussed recently anything that is an idol creates us to no longer remain sober – we become drunk or rather overtaken/obsessed with whatever that thing is for pleasure in unrighteousness.  Like I said the other day – that thing itself may not be unholy but if it replaces the Lord in our lives – we become unholy in our intentions towards it.  Be sober, now is certainly the wrong time to be in drunkenness of any sort. On another note – how often do we undermine the sovereignty of our Father with evil reports of what man or the enemy is doing here on Earth?  The Father is on His Throne COMMANDING all things, both good and evil, nothing gets by Him – He never sleeps or is shutout from what is going on – He sees all things, knows all things and is attentive continually.

Third – The next wanting King Belshazzar had in his life was he was worshipping the god of self.  He had set himself up as his own god – to the point he was delusional thinking he could do it all on his own.  When this happens we begin to serve self, feeding our own appetites rather than serve God.  Just as 2 Timothy 3:4 states, we become lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.  As a result, this King was feasting when he should have been watching, which placed him a most dangerous position with the Lord.  When we are so focused on anything above the Lord – no matter what it is – we are in disobedience only to be easily snared into thinking we are doing God’s service.  Pride always comes before a fall and in this case it certainly did, to the point of death.  I pray that not be the case for any of us.  Even Peter fell into this holier than thou temptation when he boasted how he would die with Jesus… Jesus replied to him with a warning, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”  We all know how that ended… He actually denied Jesus three times.  I cringe sometimes when I hear others repeating in Peter’s footsteps, knowing what may fall upon them due to religious pride.  Actually, the Lord reminded me of that very thing because I used to do a lot – a whole lot.  What was I thinking?  To boldly declare my faith like I am so great thing He created that could never ever be lead astray?  Lord have mercy, I am thinking of how I used to be and so grateful for the Father’s discipline because He loves me.  Anyway – We should only boast on the Lord. Period.  You all know this already, to go against this command is a choice and comes with it consequences which I am very much aware of first hand or I wouldn’t dare speak about it.  Let’s just leave it with – if we are watching self or others we cannot be watching for the Lord Jesus, Who is soon to return and no one knows the day or hour.  And on a side note – remember it was Peter who cut the ear off of the soldier who the Lord appointed to arrest Jesus then Jesus Himself put it back on.  Again, out of trying to do the right thing – Peter was in willful disobedience and pride to the point of standing in the way of what was surely ordained by the Father to come to pass.

To finish up the rest of our study we will go right into the Scriptures starting in Daniel 5 vs 17 which is Daniel’s interpretation to what the hand wrote on the wall for all to see.

17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

18 O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:

            God granted Belshazzar’s Father this kingdom he now was ruling over

19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.

20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:

            Because of pride he lost it all

21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.

            He was removed from his place UNTIL he was humbled in knowing the MOST HIGH RULED in all Kingdoms of men and HE ALONE PUTS RULERS IN NATIONS AND REMOVES THEM.

22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;

            Belshazzar should have learned from his father’s mistakes

23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

            Lifting ourselves up above the Lord for any reason at all is a very serious offense.

24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.

25 And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.

26 This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

27 Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.

28 Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

            Pride will cause a fall, of a person and anything that is under his/her care as the Lord wills.  The Lord first will divide it and then give it over to someone else.

29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

            Before Belshazzar was even slain the Lord laid the charge upon him to proclaim Daniel to be the third ruler in the kingdom.

30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.

Does the one created have anything to say to the One Who created it?  I am beginning to think nothing but praise and adoration should come out of my mouth.  How about you?

Romans 9

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

So who are really to comment on anything really regarding another soul?  Do we really have anything to say or that we should say?  To me it is becoming ever so obvious it is a matter of the heart, not deeds, not words, teachings or preaching.

And we know there is only One Who truly knows the intentions of another’s heart… It is our Lord.

Many are being weighed in this balance each and every moment of everyday…  But what is being weighed?  The flesh (sin nature) or the heart?  Just as David was a man after God’s own heart, so should we be.  A heart filled with the love of God can and does overcome a multitude of sins – their own mainly, but other’s as well. When we truly have the full understanding that all are left wanting, to some degree we no longer do the measuring or judge before the time, as all fall short; But rather let Him do what He is purposed to do – measure and fill each vessel according to His purpose and will.

Throughout this heart convicting study I found a few life altering truths –

  • Oftentimes my will does not align with the Father’s will, as I cannot see in fullness as He does. In times of desperation my flesh gets in the way and I really cannot see.  Therefore, there is no better time than when I am feeling lost, desperate or even hopeless to just be still and know that He is God and to fight the urge to do anything really.
  • We all are created WANTING – which is purposed. The key is to discover the Lord, Who is the only One who can complete us and make us whole in Him.  Until we fully grasp this truth, we may run to and fro, sometimes our whole lives search to fill the void within that only He can fill.
  • All of His creation has this void and He uses it to draw the lost unto Him – to gather them together under His wing.
  • To dishonor God’s vessels is to dishonor Him
  • The Father is not in lack, although we are in many ways. He is not limited on His provision and supply for us.
  • The Father is Sovereign. He is Master over the Heaven and the Earth, nothing gets by Him and anytime we are frantic, worried or in turmoil – we are not resting in His peace.

I pray this study has blessed you, like it did me as it helped me to correct my thoughts, settling many heartaches with acceptance that they too are purposed.

Every single loss drives us directly into His arms.  How amazing is that?

He is working everything out for our good, His promises endure forever and He truly will not lose one of His own…. Not you and not even a mess like me.?

May the Lord Bless You in His Love,

?Angela~Marked By Heaven

 

Escaping INTO Him

?

Luke 21 ~

 

And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

PLEASE NOTE:  Jesus said many will come IN HIS NAME SAYING HE IS LORD but that we should not be deceived that just because they say He is Lord – does not necessarily mean HE IS LORD IN THEIR LIVES.

But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

Kingdom rising up against Kingdom is actually DARK vs. LIGHT

11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

All these SIGNS originate in Heaven by the command of the Father.

12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.

13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.

18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

Summer is actually HARVEST TIME in which FRUIT IS READY AND RIPE

31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

In Greek these words have a deeper meaning:

WATCH – Don’t sleep, be attentive and ready, curious – formed from the word Alpha (beginning) – the first letter of the alphabet, Jesus says I am the Alpha and Omega…

THEREFORE – Why?

AND PRAY –   To want, desire, long for, make supplications

  • Individually and collectively
  • FOR A PARTICULAR RESULT

THAT YOU MAY BE ACCOUNTED WORTHY – Deem entirely deserving, to meet your reward

Base word:  To lead, move, to or depart

TO ESCAPE – To flee out of, seek safety in flight, to escape safety out of danger, to vanish

ALL – each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything – collectively/individually

THESE THINGS – these things hereafter

THAT SHALL – At the part of doing or suffering something

COME TO PASS – events which are coming to pass/happening, to be made or finished through a miracle, to arise in history or come on the stage, be kept or married

TO STAND –  To make to stand, be put in place in the midst of others, to make firm, to be kept intact in the Kingdom, to escape into safety, to sustain the force of anything

BEFORE – Before, in the presence of

THE SON OF MAN – Jesus

Therefore, the Verse ~

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

When transcribed in Greek this Scripture would actually hold a much richer meaning, as follows:

Be vigilant and awake, curious from the beginning.  Why? So individually and collectively you desire, long for and make supplications for a particular result.  May you be deemed entirely deserving to meet your reward and depart so you can flee out of, seek safety in flight and escape in safety out of danger and vanish from all the things which are coming hereafter.  There are sufferings which will come to pass, however you will be made and finished through a miracle, kept and married.  You will be made to stand, put in place in the midst of others, made firm and kept intact in the Kingdom of Heaven.  You shall escape into safety and sustain the force of anything before such events in the presence of Jesus, Himself.?

What a promise to us, the Remnant.  Thank You Lord Jesus.

He is surely making us ready to stand before Him without spot or blemish.  Each day He is purifying our hearts as in Psalm 51:10 says.  Who shall be worthy to stand before Him in that day?  Only those with a purified heart.?

Therefore, it is not a shameful truth to believe what is written about those who have made their selves ready BEFORE the time, in order that WHEN the time does come into fruition, we will be WORTHY TO ESCAPE ALL THINGS COMING UPON THE EARTH.

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:8

The truth is not all LOVE HIS APPEARING, let alone look for it or desire it to come to pass.  Only a reserved few can share in the intimacy of this truth.  The Lord has not opened everyone’s eyes yet to the precious pearl many of us share, but He surely will do all things according to His purposed timing.  There is a Remnant out there who simply wants to be ONE WITH HIM and are not looking to escape anything but this flesh body, the veil which is currently in tact as a constant reminder of the separation that comes with the journey in this life.  Thankfully, the fruit of this longing is on that day – we shall escape into HIM. ?

 

Being FOR Jesus~

Bible Study for Today?

Luke 9

  • Jesus had called the 12 disciples together – He gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure all diseases. He sent them to preach the KINGDOM OF GOD and to heal the sick.
  • He told them to take NOTHING for their journey, no coat, no money, no food.
  • He told them to enter a house to stay in on this journey
  • But if they enter a place that WILL NOT RECEIVE THEM, when they leave they are to shake the dust off their feet for A TESTIMONY AGAINST THEM.
  • They journeyed long and wide healing and preaching to many.
  • People started talking questioning if John had risen from the dead or that Elias had appeared or some other dead prophets were risen again.
  • This bothered King Herod because he knew he had beheaded John and desired to see him so the King took the disciples aside privately.
  • Even this made others follow them getting healed and listening to the Kingdom of God.
  • The people became hungry so Jesus instructed they should feed them – about 5000 men to be exact. All they had were 5 loves and two fishes.  After Jesus took the food, He looked up to Heaven and blessed the food and it was enough to feed them all enough and they were filled.  With the fragments left over they put into their 12 baskets for the rest of the journey.
  • Jesus went to be alone and pray then He asked the disciples… Who do the people say I am?
  • They told Him people were saying He was John the Baptist, Elias or one of the prophets of old.
  • They He asked the disciples… Who do you say that I am? Peter answered and said THE CHRIST OF GOD.
  • He told them NOT TO TELL ANYONE THAT.
  • He explained to them – The Son of Man must suffer many things and be REJECTED BY THE ELDERS AND PRIESTS AND SCRIBES AND BE SLAIN TO BE RAISED THE THIRD DAY.
  • He told them all: IF ANYONE SEEKS TO COME AFTER ME, HE MUST DENY HIMSELF, DAILY TAKE UP HIS CROSS (SUFFERING) AND FOLLOW JESUS.  He told them if they SEEK TO SAVE THEIR LIVES, THEY WILL LOSE IT but if they LOSE THEIR LIVES FOR HIS SAKE, THEY SHALL BE SAVED.
  • He told them it is of no advantage to gain the whole World and be lost or cast away.
  • Jesus also told them if ANYONE is ASHAMED OF HIM OR HIS WORDS, then He will be ashamed of them on the DAY HE COMES IN HIS OWN GLORY AND THE FATHER’S GLORY in the PRESENCE OF ANGELS.
  • He then told them – Some of you standing here right now will never taste death until they see the Kingdom of God.
  • Eight days later – Jesus took Peter, John and James to the mountain to pray. While He was praying HIS APPEARANCE CHANGED – His clothing became white and glistening.
  • And all of a sudden two men (Moses and Elias) appeared talking to Jesus. They too appeared in the Glory of the Lord sharing how Jesus must decrease in Jerusalem.
  • The three apostles had fallen into a deep sleep then woke up seeing Jesus, Elias and Moses in the Glory.
  • Peter then called Jesus – Master saying it is good for us to be here and unknowingly Peter said to Jesus, let us make three tabernacles, one for each of you.
  • As Peter spoke A CLOUD OVERSHADOWED THEM, THEY GOT VEAR FEARFUL and ENTERED INTO THE CLOUD. In the cloud they heard a voice saying THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, HEAR HIM.
  • After they heard the voice, they saw Jesus was alone standing there. They shared what they had seen and heard with no man – keeping it close to them (like a pearl).
  • The next day they came down from the mountain and many people met them.
  • A man brought his son to Jesus for deliverance from devils. He relayed to Jesus the disciples were unable to cast the evil spirit out.  Jesus said to them – You are a faithless and perverse generation – How long must I suffer you and be with you?  Bring me your son.
  • Jesus then rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child- returning him to his father.
  • They were all amazed by the power of God and wondered about the things Jesus did.
  • Jesus then told His disciples – LET THIS SINK DEEP INTO YOUR EARS, THE SON OF MAN SHALL BE DELIVERED INTO THE HANDS OF MEN. But they did not understand as IT WAS HID FROM THEM to perceive.  Out of fear they did not ask Him to clarify.
  • All of a sudden they began to dispute WHICH ONE OF THEM SHOULD BE THE GREATEST.
  • Jesus PERCEIVED THEIR HEARTS.
  • He took a child and sat that child RIGHT BESIDE HIM
  • He told them WHOEVER RECEIVES THIS CHILD IN MY NAME RECEIVES ME. WHOEVER RECEIVES ME RECEIVES MY FATHER WHO SENT ME.
  • Jesus then said THE LEAST AMONG YOU SHALL BE GREAT.
  • John then said to Jesus – Master we saw one casting out devils in Your Name but we forbid him to do so because he doesn’t follow us. Jesus said – FORBID HIM NOT, FOR HE THAT IS NOT AGAINST US IS FOR US.
  • The time had come for Jesus to head towards Jerusalem and be lifted up so He sent His messengers to ready a village in Samaria for Him but they did not receive Him. When John and James saw this they asked the Lord – Are you going to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them as Elias did?
  • Jesus turned and REBUKED THEM saying YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT SPIRIT YOU ARE OF. THE SON OF MAN IS NOT COME TO DESTROY MAN’S LIVES, BUT TO SAVE THEM.
  • So they went to another village.
  • A man approached Jesus and said Lord I will follow You wherever You go. Jesus said, foxes have holes and the birds have their nests but THE SON OF MAN HAS NO WHERE TO LAY HIS HEAD.  Then Jesus looked at another man and said FOLLOW ME.  But the man said – Lord wait for me to go bury my father.  Jesus replied with LET THE DEAD BURY THE DEAD WHILE YOU GO PREACH THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
  • Another man approached Jesus saying – I will follow you but first I need to go to my house and tell everyone goodbye. Jesus replied to him by saying NO MAN WHO PUTS HIS HAND TO THE PLOW AND LOOKS BACK IS FIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. (Once we follow Jesus, we can no longer return to our old life)

 Just a few points about this study:

The disciples errored when they forbid someone WHO DID NOT FOLLOW THEM from casting out evil spirits.  Jesus relayed to them that as long as SOMEONE IS FOR US, THEY ARE NOT AGAINST US.

The same is true IF SOMEONE IS AGAINST US, THEY ARE NOT FOR US.

How would we know?  Contention and strife with accusation.  Which is a good reminder to us to not accuse anyone at any time.

In Greek to be AGAINST someone means – to accuse or go against

So here we can perceive – as long as someone is following Jesus then we should not interfere, stand in the way of, forbid what they are doing, accuse them or come against the means by which they are serving the Kingdom of God.

Who are we to know fully the plans of the Lord?  Can we really for a fact know that certain people who are not following us are not performing according to how the Lord is directing them?  This is especially true for anyone who says Jesus is Lord in their lives.

I believe many of us do struggle and have errored in this way on numerous occasions.

Lately, I just keep being pressed in my Spirit continually to NOT BLAME anyone for anything, which grieves the Holy Spirit greatly.

The whole premise of this Chapter gives us a relevant view of just WHAT IT DOES LOOK LIKE TO FOLLOW JESUS:

  • Take nothing with you
  • Enter places and only stay if you are received
  • You leave a place if you are not received and shake the dust off
  • You are on a long journey and during the course of your life’s journey you will meet up with many to tell about the Kingdom of God, to heal, deliver, cast out evil spirits ALL BY THE POWER OF THE LORD
  • You will see the Glory of the Lord appear
  • You will feed many people and always have enough sustenance for yourself
  • There will be times that the Lord reveals a mystery that is only for you and a couple witnesses but you are not to share it with others
  • You will know Jesus is the Son of God
  • You will be rejected just as He was by elders and higher ups in the church – religious people – but Jesus will raise you up again
  • You must continually deny yourself to follow Jesus
  • There is suffering on the journey
  • You will no longer seek to save your life
  • In losing your life, you will be saved eternally
  • You are not ashamed of Jesus and therefore He will not be ashamed of you
  • You are promised intimate times with Jesus
  • You will be full of faith, no longer perverse
  • You no longer desire or care who is the greatest because as a child you shall believe and walk
  • You start to see all others as children and therefore you receive them in His Name just as you receive Him
  • You never forbid or refuse another from serving the Lord whether they follow after you or not is irrelevant
  • You do not call fire down upon another or a place knowing Jesus seeks to save man not burn them
  • You willingly leave all things behind to follow Jesus
  • You no longer look back at your old life desiring those things you once did
  • First and foremost above all things, you are devoted to ONE-JESUS.

This study was beautiful and encouraging.  Like me, you probably can strike several things off your list and yet still see several other things that need worked on in order to live a life laid down fully to Jesus in order to assure we are serving His Kingdom purpose.

Heavenly Father, today we once again say yes to You and that we will live a life laid down in full submission to Your will.  Help us Lord to overcome all obstacles of the flesh in order we shine a little brighter for You in this dark World.  We give You all glory and honor and praise the for the timeless gift of Your Son Jesus.  May we continue to grow in Faith and walk with Him each day. In His Mighty Name we pray. Amen

IMPOSTORS In The Church Body

?

2 Corinthians 11

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

  • THIS IS A WARNING TO THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

  • EVE WAS BEGUILED BY SUBTLE MEANS

What does it mean to be subtle?  “Of mixture (false/truth) – using clever and indirect methods to achieve something, to give hints and be mysterious, to be crafty, highly skillful and have great insight to deeply understand”

  • STAY SIMPLE CONCERNING EVIL

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

  • IF IT IS NOT WRITTEN IN THE WORD IT COULD LEAD YOU ASTRAY
  • BY TESTING THE SPIRITS BY THE WRITTEN WORD OF THOSE WHO SPEAK – THERE IS A LOT OF UNNECESSARY TEACHINGS OUT THERE – We were warned about this many times.

 

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

  • WHO DO THEY APPEAR LIKE? Apostles – leader inside the Church who teaches and instructs, performing signs, miracles and wonders.

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

  • WE ARE NOT TO BE TAKEN BY THEIR INIQUITOUS WORKS.
  • SATAN HIMSELF ALSO APPEARED TO EVE AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

  • SO OBVIOUSLY HIS MINISTERS WILL ALSO APPEAR TO BE MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
  • How do we know WHO they are? They LIE and DECEIVE.  The devil is the Father of all liars, just as it is written.

 

WHAT IS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT?

The Greek defines ANGEL OF LIGHT as the following:

ANGEL in this sense means LEADER, PASTOR, MESSENGER

LIGHT in this sense means one who:

Is a lamp and shines brightly

Appears brilliant

Speaks of truth and knowledge, together with spiritual purity

Is seen in the public – manifests

One who reasons with the mind

Has a deep understanding of moral and spiritual truth

Lures people with their minds and opinions

To make known or declare one’s thoughts by speaking

 

So basically…  These are those INSIDE the church body who are very crafty being used by satan himself.  They are difficult to recognize because they appear as a LIGHT and have a gathering who listen to them.  They appear brilliant due to the fact they have much knowledge and a deep understanding of Spiritual truth.  They are very alluring to your mind through enticing words.

TODAY…. WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THESE “IMPOSTERS”

 

Heavenly Father I just thank You with all that I am that You have provided Your truth to those of us who seek You with a pure heart.  I thank You that there is not a possible way for the elect to be deceived as long as we keep You first and foremost in our hearts.  Your gift of discernment is valued and treasured during these evil days we live in and we glorify Your Name as You impart the teachings of righteousness within us as Your truth, Your wisdom and Your life giving words which open our eyes to see and our ears to hear only that which is righteous and true.  Father I thank You for sending Your precious Son, Jesus to save us from eternal death.  Today we open our hearts to You and ask You to guide us and teach us through the Holy Spirit. 

In Jesus’s Mighty Name. Amen

So for today the Lord has laid this on my heart to share with you all what He has been showing me about the most SUBTLE ways in which the enemy deceives… Just like he beguiled Eve in the Garden and even to the point of Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss in another garden – the Garden of Gethsemane.  Both were gardens and for today’s teaching consider THE CHURCH your GARDEN.  Now it goes without saying – all things work together for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.  So where our lives are concerned as we rely on Him, we trust Him to not leave anything undone.  Remember… IF it were possible, the elect would be deceived, but that is not possible.  Praise the Lord!

The Lord started telling me weeks ago that I did not know my own enemy.  Which is the genesis of today’s teaching.  My prayer is after today you will have gleaned a little more insight and wisdom to his ways and be a little more aware and on guard when he sneaks into the fold, so to speak.

The Word tells us to RESIST THE ENEMY AND HIS SCHEMES AND SNARES.  Sadly, the Lord pointed out to me we often resist but carry on unaware of his schemes and snares.  Today we are going to become more aware of our surroundings and KNOW WHO THE REAL ENEMY actually is in our midst.  He uses one major tactic against us – Catching us UNAWARE.  He seeks to be worshiped above our Heavenly Father and he lays snares of false worship at our feet to pull us away from the worship of the One True Jesus.  He does this by transforming INTO an angel of light by taking advantage, tempting us and sifting us in order to possess and imprison us.  These MINISTERS OF LIGHT are imposters, counterfeits and use mind control to alter our thinking process, placing us in torment because they are in torment themselves often through FEAR.

Let’s go over some of their tactics:

Provoke

Lie

Murder with their lips

Cause illness

Cause spiritual blindness

Perform signs, miracles and lying wonders

Shoot flaming arrows of doubt

Try to hinder us

Condemn us

Try to devour us

Steal the Word once it is sown into us

 

The enemy will use any willing vessel he can get ahold of to accomplish these goals, so do not be surprised as he does this to all the brethren of Jesus Christ.

One key weapon we have to battle his schemes is forgiveness.

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 says:

10 To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

The enemy is set to divide and conquer, he is in the midst of us as we are co-laborers with Jesus.  Forgiveness breeds unity in the Body of Christ. The Word speaks much on forgiveness, so satan does not outwit us creating division.  Remember, as of today we are no longer unaware of his schemes.

Have you all noticed how bold and less subtle the enemy is getting lately?  This is why…

We have not only allowed the enemy into the Church Body, but sadly we have invited him – set the table, pulled out his seat and asked him to dine with us – making him welcome, rather than resisting him.

We have done this by:

Fellowshipping with his followers

We have remained silent and fast asleep

We have this sloppy agape thing going on to ease our own conscience

We reason with the enemy rather than defeat him, ignoring the instruction which has been given to us

We often deny the Sovereignty of the Father by stirring up and passing on evil reports which have nothing to do with salvation itself, glorify evil as we wring our hands doing his bidding

We can recognize him INSIDE the Church, but like a deer looking into headlights we fail to do as instructed and resist him – we are now in a frozen state.  His tactics are to:  Disrupt, distract, demean, destroy, divide, dishonest and many more devilish ways… While we turn a deaf ear, frozen in time.

He targets those who LOVE THE TRUTH AND SPEAK IT.  It is not enough for us to speak the truth – the Bible tells us we must LOVE THE TRUTH (Jesus).

He targets leaders inside the church first because if he can take down the leaders the whole congregation will be shaken.  The Lord gave me a vision the other day as an example of how the enemy weaves in and out of families.  I saw a large pine tree, healthy and planted, very study and strong in good soil.  What He showed me was:  Jesus is the Root of this tree.  Michael is the trunk of the tree (strong) and I am the soil (nourishing) and the COT Family is the fruit on display in the tree.  You all were such beautiful foliage, to the well-nourished tree in my vision.  I kept seeing little bugs sent to bring down the tree to destroy it.  What we tolerate will abide, the Lord showed me and if tolerated to multiply it certainly will affect the general overall health and well-being of the tree.

The key here is to be aware – If the enemy cannot reach the leaders he will whisper to the followers to do his bidding.  You know why?  If he can keep the leaders distracted, the word is choked – the tree becomes weak and little fruit is being produced.  If we all work together – as one tree – you maintain the tree by silencing the enemy when he is present because he operates in the foliage. By doing this the Word is not choked and you are nourished in return.  This should be our cycle of life in COT.  All of this can be overcome in LOVE alone.

An impostor banks on fitting in and appearing as light, they stay inside to do the most damage by murmuring, causing strife and division.  Why?  I am glad you asked… Are you ready?

If the enemy can get us to battle one another… Guess what?  We are not battling the evil and they who are sent to do his bidding succeed.  We turn on one another – he stays and some family flees.  Devils can only enter in through open doors.  They stay by invitation only.  They are not resisted, so they remain.  This is also the very reason why judgment starts inside the House of God.

Without the full armor of God we have a lack of discernment with blinders on.  We are getting weaker as the enemy is getting bolder.  These workers of iniquity are very bold and mock the Lord on High.  The church is weak because they carry evil reports to and fro across the Earth.  That in in itself is wearing out many Saints.  There is so much mixed in with the church right now, only the Lord Himself can inflict a heart of repentance.  By calling good evil and evil good we seek entertainment calling it ministry quite often, Lord help us.

For all you news junkies out there…  I hate to tell you what the Lord showed me, but He is forcing me to.  He told me how so many are doing the enemy’s bidding by spreading EVIL REPORTS continually all under the guise of Ministry and glorifying the works of darkness upon the Earth by spreading it one to another.  I just kept hearing the word “Evil reports,” in my Spirit.  You all still love me?  I am sorry, please forgive me if that offends any of you.  I just deliver what the Lord tells me to say, so if you are upset, please take it to Him.  Just be careful what you share with others because we all will be held accountable for every idle word – even those passed through us to others.  When you pass something on – did you know you are giving your seal of approval to it as truth?  Just something to consider… And I hate to tell you, but over half of those pictures people post are tampered with and photo-shopped.

Back to imposters.  They claim they have infiltrated every single church affiliation and ministry in the World today and they have an angle to all they say and do.

An Angel of Light will:

  • Profess Jesus
  • By the natural eye appear normal
  • Sometimes uses a snare of being needy and/or assisting others
  • Educated
  • Quote and know Scripture
  • Ever present in gatherings in order to appear loyal
  • First gain acceptance which leads to participation which leads to influence
  • Will falsely represent themselves to be bound to the leadership
  • They will fracture a church body
  • Make false claims against leadership
  • Cause oppression to wear out the Saints
  • They will distract with drama or provoking questions.
  • Their goal is to take down the Shephard in order to make the sheep scatter and often turn to them

The Bible tells us to make no friends with an angry man and to not invite evil in.  So… What do we do exactly?  I am so thankful the Lord did not leave us ignorant to the enemy’s devises.  We are to keep on the full armor of God at all times so we are prepared for this battle spiritually.  Absolutely, the battle manifests in the natural but we do our fighting in the Spirit – by the guidance, covering, directing and purity of the Holy Spirit.

The truth is some of us are very familiar with evil so it is not perceived as quickly as it is with others.  There are many of us who are not familiar with the unfruitful works of darkness and discern its activity immediately.  In these cases, it would be wise to seek Godly counsel from someone you trust and know, by the Holy Spirit, because there certainly are full blown demon possessed people inside the Church.  This is a good time to remind ourselves that a church does not save anyone, so we cannot be fooled by “Who,” is present.

Just how do we know who is who?  It is only by the Spirit we become wise and in turn we can discern who is operating sincerely and justly by one word — REPENTANCE.  Our brethren are those who have within them a heart of repentance which means (changed).  They join us in being a new creature IN CHRIST JESUS.  It is true that many call upon His Name but only those who have turned away from wickedness are no longer a worker of iniquity.

Recently, the Lord woke me up and directed me to the Book of Malachi.  I haven’t read this Book in the Bible for a very long time so I was most curious what it referenced and to be honest I had forgotten what I had read previously.  It isn’t a long Book and I would highly recommend you all read it when you have a chance.  But today, I am going to share a pearl He gave me about the Book of Malachi. As I read this book, I just let the Holy Spirit be my guide and wrote in layman’s terms what the Spirit was showing me.  Before I share what I wrote with you, please keep in mind, this is line upon line Scriptural.  I compare it to if we were allowed to sit at the feet of Jesus hearing Him teach us in simple truth.

My Pearl – THE BOOK OF MALACHI

Malachi ~ Which is the burden of the Lord…

He says He has loved us but still we ask just when did you love us Lord?  So many times we build our own lives and they are torn down by the Lord for our own good but we fail to recognize the losses as gain in Him.  One day our eyes will see and we will say, The Lord is magnified.  The Lord cries out where is My honor?  You show more honor to your father and master in this World, but when will I, the one true God, be honored?  You despise my Name and then turn around only to inquire how would that be so?  My alter is polluted with vain offerings and sacrifices and I will not accept them as I did not require such a thing of you.  Since I find no pleasure in you, I will not accept an offering by your hand. 

I seek a pure offering so my name is made great among the heathen but you have profaned my table by rotten fruit and meat, tainting it through the acceptance and approval of evil ways.  I curse the deceiver who is in the flock sacrificing anything corrupt to Me – the King of Kings, Lord of Hosts.  My Name is dreadful to the heathens.

I have a commandment for the Priests.  If you will not hear and purify your heart to give glory solely to My Name, I shall send a curse upon you and curse your blessings, actually I have already cursed them because you do not lay it to heart what I say as the final truth and do not take me seriously.  Your seed shall be cursed and the vileness within you will be revealed on your face for all to behold.  By my command, one will lead you astray. 

I established a covenant of life and peace, giving it to you in measurement to the fear wherewith you feared me and was afraid of My Name.  The Law of Truth was in your mouth and no iniquity rests upon your lips as you walk with me in peace and equity – turning many others away from iniquity as well.

The priest’s lips should keep knowledge, seeking my law, for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts.  But some of you have departed out of My ways, causing many to stumble, corrupting my covenant, mixing in partiality, sinful, indeed.

We all have one Father, one Creator God and yet we are deal treacherously profaning our covenant with Him.  Abominations are committed and overlooked, profaning My Holiness through fornication.  The Lord will cut off the man that does this – the master, the scholar and anyone who offers anything up to Me.  And you have done this repeatedly as if I am not aware.  The residue of your shortcomings is upon you, therefore take heed and repent.  You try to cover up your violence, take heed to your spirit so your countenance is not treacherous. 

As you continually call evil good and good evil you weary the Lord with your words.  You actually say – Everyone that does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, telling them He is delighted with them and that He does not judge their actions. 

Behold, I will send my messenger and he shall prepare the straight way before Me and suddenly I will come into the temple with this messenger who speaks truthfully of the covenant for in him I find great delight.

I ask you… Who shall abide when he comes and who shall stand when he appears?  For he purifies with fire, cleaning as with the washing of pure soap.  He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and he shall purify all children and purge them as gold and silver in that they may offer up an offering of righteousness unto the Lord.  Then and only then shall the offering be pleasant unto the Lord as in the former days of old.

In order that you not be consumed I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and the adulterers, those who swear of My Name falsely, all who oppress and those who do not know Me, especially those who refuse to separate from fornicators and fear me not.  For I am the Lord and I change not. 

Because you have drifted away from My ordinances and refuse to keep them I offer unto you a chance to repent, return to Me and then and only then will I return unto you.  Even still you say to Me – Were shall we return so I ask of you – Will man rob God?  Because you have robbed Me in all that you so vainly offered up to Me.  Therefore, you are cursed with a curse, which sweeps all the inhabitants of the Earth. 

Bring all you have before Me in order there be food in your house.  Prove Me on this says the Lord of Hosts and see Me open to you the windows of Heaven and pour out upon you a blessing so great that there will not be room enough to receive it.

I shall rebuke the devourer in your midst for your sakes and he shall no longer destroy your fruit and every single thing in your life will be right on time, My time. Which is perfect and all the nations shall call you blessed, for you shall be a delight throughout the land.

You have spoken stout words against Me and once again you ask – When?  You said to others it is vain to serve Me and it is not profitable to walk in My ways, Holy, in mourning for the sins committed.  You call the proud – happy, as you set up places for those who work wickedness to do the enemy’s bidding and not mine, as you declare falsely even those who tempt God shall be delivered.

During those times, they that fear the Lord speak often to one another and the Lord hearkened and heard all that was said.  Therefore, a Book of Remembrance was written before the Almighty, reserved solely for those who feared the Lord and thought upon His Name alone.

And they shall be mine, says the Lord of Hosts, on that day when I make up my jewels, I will spare them as my own precious child.   Once you return unto Me, you will discern between the righteous and the wicked and between him that serves God and him that serves not.

For behold a day comes that shall burn as an oven, and the proud and those who do wickedly shall be as stubble, because on that day I shall burn them up, leaving no root or branch in the midst thereof, sayeth the Lord of Hosts.

But unto you who fear My Name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings and you shall go forth and spring up.  In that day, you shall tread down the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, sayeth the Lord.

Keep remembrance of the Law with the statutes and judgments. 

Elijah the prophet shall be in your midst before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord and he shall turn the heart of the Father to His children and the Heart of the children to the Father, lest I smite the Earth with a curse.

Jesus taught us so much about the NARROW WAY.  How we enter into the narrow gate is when we walk the narrow path.  We can only accomplish this task by STUDYING HIS WORD, TRUSTING HIM IN ALL THINGS, OBEYING HIS COMMANDS AND SEEKING HIM WITH A PURE HEART THROUGH REPENTANCE.  This truly is the NARROW WAY  which insures us we are not walking on the broad path to destruction.

Our present condition will define our finished portion just as our deeds match our heart condition.

Many start out good in this race called life, but it is how we finish that really matters.  As we repent we are brought out of the darkness into His glorious Light.

So keep watch who you let into your garden because the enemy seeks to sift you as wheat.  Don’t sleep, stay sober and vigilant in order to not be swept away and enticed by those who are impostors and come as an angel of light.  They are subtle, they embrace and entice only to devour.

I thank You Lord that you will not lose even one of Your own, we rely on You to keep us protected and covered under the shadow of Your wings, even to the point of protecting us from ourselves.  As little children Lord, we rely on You for everything.  Amen.

The Bible says in Romans for us as brethren to “MARK” those who cause divisions and offenses – contrary to the doctrine and avoid them.

In Greek it means:

  • To Mark someone is to keep watch on them (marksman)
  • To be skeptical
  • To spy on
  • To take heed and consider the end result

To “AVOID” means:

  • To deviate from
  • Shun
  • Keep one away from society
  • To stay away from

As the days unfold it is becoming more and more evident we are in a time of preparation.  The Lord is speaking through His Witnesses, warning after warning about the coming delusional deception – which is already starting to be revealed.  With that revealing comes a responsibility – to separate, come out from among – to no longer “Fellowship” with the unfruitful works of darkness.

?We love all – just like our Lord does.  And we pray that all will come into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  That just goes without saying.  But mingling, tolerating, glossing over wickedness, will get more and more dangerous as time unfolds.

Remember the Lord said – He will not leave us IGNORANT to the enemy’s devises.

Sometimes we wonder just what the Lord does require of us.  Micha 6:8 describes it best.  He requires we act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with HIM.  We do not walk with Imposters, we walk with HIM and are not fooled because through HIM we see they are not walking with HIM, nor us.

Remember – Consider the source.  If we do not understand this “Angel of Light” tactic we will call or recognize evil as good because from the outside they appear LOVING, ACCEPTING, FORGIVING, TOLERANT, ETC…  But the deeper you go, you will discover the source they speak of as “the Christ” has absolutely nothing to do with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which the exception of appearing like Him.

So next time we will go over the rest of the Imposter Study and begin to unravel the world wide love fest the enemy is using to deceive the inhabitants of the Earth and sadly enough they are utilizing the church to do their bidding.  Lord help us.

There are many schemes the enemy uses to appear within the Church Body as an ANGEL OF LIGHT.  We are being conditioned to not recognize his crafty and subtle ways of deceiving, through many key words that sound good to the ears, but are rooted in pure evil.  At first glance terms like:  LIGHT, LOVE, INCLUSION, UNITY, PURITY, SELFLESSNESS all appear welcoming to lead one down a path to Jesus, however, if they are not rooted in Him as the Rock and Bread of Truth they will tickle your ears to the point of beguilement, similar to what Eve experienced in the Garden.

No one should assume they cannot be beguiled.  Adam and Eve were both ONE WITH THE CREATOR, communing with HIM, void of sin. and yet they too were tempted and overtaken.

I must admit lately it feels as if we are fighting a losing battle, however, this too is purposed.

One particular Scripture which totally reflects where many of us are at this day is:

Revelation 3

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

.Church of Sardis

  • Watch
  • Strengthen that which remains (as you are shaken)
  • Do works for the Lord, but do not be deceived – we are not perfect
  • Remember how we received and heard (first love based)
  • Hold tight to Jesus – stand firm, unmovable – focused on Jesus Alone
  • REPENT – Which is overlooked on almost every religious arena these days
  • If we FAIL to REPENT, RETURN TO OUR FIRST LOVE or MAKE JESUS FIRST – HE WILL COME TO US AS A THIEF – or rather, suddenly without us expecting it and we will be startled and fearful
  • He will come at an hour we do not know – Because we are so focused on Worldly things, sin, works, man, desires, signs, wonders, evil reports, brothers/sisters, etc… Or even if I may say so – We are so caught up in our own minds and being right we no longer LOVE HIS APPEARING, looking always for His return.

There is a crown of righteousness reserved for only those who love His appearing.?

This Scripture is found in 2 Timothy 4 – we are going to take a look at it IN CONTEXT so we know the background to what was written, answering the why’s surrounding this truth.

2 Timothy 4

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

  • Jesus will judge the quick (those who alive in Christ, worthy, walking in Holiness) and the dead (those dead in sin) WHEN HE APPEARS.

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

  • Instant – Lead by the Spirit, not flesh
  • In/Out of Season – at all times
  • Reprove – Convict & Correct
  • Rebuke – Admonish while honoring
  • Exhort – Call aside to encourage & strengthen
  • Suffering through all things with patience
  • Measuring all things according to the Doctrine of our Lord

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

  • Future tense
  • Endure (sustain, bear to hear) sound doctrine because they are so filled with lusts
  • They will in seek false doctrines taught by false teachers which are pleasant to hear

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

  • No longer will listen to any truth, preferring to hear fables – interesting mysteries about someone’s vision or dream, secret counsels, Angel knowledge – in other words they seek to be entertained rather than feasting on the Written Word of God for themselves.

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

  • What is an Evangelist? Instructs men concerning the things that pertain to Christian salvation, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

  • Paul knew he was getting ready to go Home to be with the Lord

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

  • Through fighting the good fight he finished his course and kept his faith the whole way through – Overcomer

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

  • Those who overcome as Paul did and love the appearing of Jesus shall receive a crown of righteousness
  • LOVE His appearing – Only reserved for the Bride of Christ, those who have fallen IN LOVE with Him intimately, welcome His appearing they entertain and meditate on His appearing.

Now, the main reason we are going over this Scripture right now is to recognize an impostor, we need to fully be aware with wisdom when our Lord and Savior appears.  It is my belief, He is appearing continually through the Holy Spirit and He SHALL appear AGAIN, just as we read, on THAT DAY.  Keep in mind THAT DAY could be today for any one of us or it could be later because truly NO ONE KNOWS the day or hour, not even the Son, Himself or the Angels in Heaven.

This is a prime example, of an instance in which we might do what verse 2 says and reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine – when someone declares Jesus is coming in the clouds on such and such date.  The date seems to come and go after leading many astray with a fable.  We ought to be wise to that trick to make the Bride of Christ look fanatical and full of a false deception.

So in order to know how Jesus will not come [on man’s time-frame and how man describes the circumstances under which Jesus’s appearing will occur we must stay diligent in the Word.]

It is not my intent to argue over any catching away doctrine, but if we do not know HOW HE SHALL COME, then it is likely we will be deceived when an angel of light comes in His place.

Oh and before we move on…  If you read the rest of 2 Timothy 4 you will see that PAUL NAMED NAMES of those who did preach falsely and he was not fearful to call evil, evil when it appeared as light.

I will go so far to say that any man/woman one may follow closer than Jesus, or listen to more than Jesus or desire more than Jesus, etc… Has the probability of wooing you by appearing as an angel of light at any given time, so beware and be forewarned.

The Lord has really been pressing upon me it is time to wake up family and stop calling evil good and good evil.

There are so many assumptions out there on how Jesus will appear and most are false.  It is dangerous to step outside of the Word on this topic for any reason whatsoever. In order to glorify the Lord and set the foundation for His Coming – the only One I want to see coming – He is the only One I desire to be gathered by, as I am sure is the case for all of you…  Let’s see the instruction given to us on HOW JESUS WILL COME and how He will appear on THAT DAY.

In keeping with our Impostor study I do not want us to focus on timing but rather actual Biblical Doctrine of His return.  Keep in mind even the disciples thought that day was at hand to occur in their lifetime.  Like I said earlier – to recognize a counterfeit we must retain wisdom on the real.  Remember, the enemy always sends a counterfeit in place of the One True God.

Therefore, let’s look at some Scripture on how Jesus will return and appear.

Revelation 1:7

Tells us Jesus comes with clouds, every eye shall see Him and everyone on Earth will cry

Revelation 19

Tells us He sits on a white horse. His eyes are as flames of fire, He has many crowns on His head, He has a name no man knows – only Himself, He is clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, all the armies of Heaven follow Him on white horses and they too are clothed in white and clean linen.  There is a sharp sword that goes out of His mouth.  On His thigh is written KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Acts 1:11

Tells us He will come down the same way He went up… In the clouds

1 Thessalonians 5:23

That those who belong to Him will be found blameless before Him when He comes.

2 Thessalonians 2:8

Says Jesus will destroy the lawless one by the breath of His mouth and the brightness of His coming

Revelation 22:12

His reward comes with Him

1 Thessalonians 5:2

He comes as a thief during a time in which people are saying “Peace & Safety”

2 Peter 3:10

When He comes the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, it will be very hot melting everything and the Earth is burned up. 

Mathew 25: 31-34

He comes in glory with the angels and will sit on His throne.  All nations gather before Him and He will separate the sheep to His right hand and the goats to His left.

Colossians 3:4

When He comes, we too will be revealed with Him in glory.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

He will bring those who are asleep with Him and if we are still alive and remain alive until He comes – when He decends from Heaven with a shout and the trumpet of God those who died before rise first then those who are still alive are caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

AGAIN…. I AM NOT BRINGING THIS UP TO DEBATE TIMING OR EVENTS, BUT RATHER SO WE ARE CLEAR ON HOW JESUS APPEARS DURING HIS SECOND COMING.

Because if we are caught unaware and an impostor shows up or if a counterfeit decides to appear and do miracles, we will KNOW WITH CERTAINTY 100% WITHOUT A DOUBT that is not our Jesus, Lord of Lords and King of Kings.  Amen?

So now that we gave a Biblical account of exactly how Jesus shall appear I want to focus on one single Scripture of just how the impostor of Him shall be revealed.

Mathew 24:26

Wherefore, if they say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

  • Desert here means waste place, solitary, desolation or wilderness
  • Secret chamber means: hidden or inside room – concealed

For our future study this is going to be of the upmost importance you remember two things:

Jesus comes in the clouds and every eye will see Him

An imposter shall come from the desert and remain concealed in a hidden place

Forget signs and wonders, miracles and fire, luring words of wisdom, love and unity.  None of these qualities are proof positive our Lord and Savior has returned.

I know this seems like a small thing… But in the end, if we are still here, these Words of Truth will be all we have to test things by to see if what is being manifested aligns with God’s word.

The stage has been set for evil counterfeits to enter, it is my prayer none of us are deceived by this evil impostor’s fables of enticing words of affirmation and love.

2 Peter 1:16

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

1 John 2:26-29

26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is  no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Lastly…

We are told to pray that we are worthy to escape ALL these things coming upon the Earth to stand before the Son of God and also to hold fast to what we do have until He does come and let no man steal our crown.

This is my prayer for me and for you all as well.

Maranantha!?

Pure Love is Void of SELF ~

?

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Luke 6:31

The emotional “Whirlwinds,” in this world are growing stronger and stronger, as the increase in self-centeredness, greed, coveting, wrath and pride manifest in so many. It seems as if selfishness has reached a whole new level, in which thoughtfulness for another is practically a consideration of the past, long ago of days gone by.  How to be “In this world but not of this world,” challenges all believers even more so these days, as the cares of this world war against the Spirit. How to be Christ-like in all things? If one is a “Giver,” by nature, you may be somewhat conditioned to the whims of “Takers,” but are the Saints beginning to have little strength, just as was prophesized generations ago? Has a different type of “Taker” spirit spread into the majority, placing the truly needy into the shadows? Is this taking away the true joy of the blessing in giving and receiving which we are to share with each other? Is this world truly wearing out the Saints? Or has my own perception of others grown less tolerant, chances are it is a mixture of all this and more.

Our plea ~ Lord Jesus help us overcome our own selfish ways, help us to endure, walking Christ-like, overcoming through You until to the end.

In prayer I was reflecting on this disconnect between the “Talk verses walk,” an epidemic we have going on in the Church right now it seems. Many emotional traps loom around us all daily, as the world becomes darker and darker. Either believers fall into co-existence and compliancy or lash out against the world in emotions of hate, anger and self-righteousness. How did Christ set the example? The Lord walked in this world without falling into the traps that were set all around HIM; not giving into the emotions of the flesh, speaking only pure truth and love with a pure heart.

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

1 John 2:6 

Truly, there is nothing more pressing upon my Spirit lately than ensuring my walk aligns with what I speak.  It requires a constant heart check on my part, with daily repentance and reliance on the Holy Spirit to convict me when I stray off the path.  The verse the Lord gave me as instruction for myself and His children reflects one of the ways we are currently falling short of His principals.  Simply put, we do not treat others the way we expect them to treat us.  We are constantly putting demands on another, barely tolerating a misstep on their behalf, rising in our own flesh emotions instead of walking in the Spirit. With deflection at an all-time high, we have become masters at escaping responsibility for our own actions.  This has caused deaf ears and cold hearts, resulting in relationships being severed and slaughtered for the sake of one’s self.  Am I honestly treating others the way I desire to be treated?

Jesus commands us to love one another beyond ourselves, to even lay down our lives for one another.    LOVE IS DEMONSTRATED.  Well, the opposite is true, as well.  LACK OF LOVE IS DEMONSTRATED.  We are seeing it and experiencing it all over the place; for the love of many is waxing cold, so it seems.  However with that being said, I am also noticing the love of a few, burning like a flaming fire, untamable and unmatched.   “Hot or cold,” comes to mind.  Like with anything, it is a condition of the heart, what is inside will come pouring out, for the good or the bad.  A daily heart check with sincere repentance, is crucial in these difficult times we are facing; to ensure our love is not running cold like so many placed here for such a time as this.  We must first see if our actions reflect the heart of Jesus and the pureness of His love.  Being sanctified and set apart is evidenced by how we walk daily, not only by what we pronounce ourselves to be.  Sadly, the daily walk of many believers is lukewarm at best in comparison to non-believers around the world we live in today; in many cases they have meshed into one.  One, who’s source is not Jesus, the King of Glory.

As for me, I no longer desire to hear I am loved by another; but rather to see evidence in my own walk daily, that I love as Christ loves me; and in return are loved the same. The Lord demonstrates HIS love, the only true love, HIS perfect love. How to love like Christ is found in The Word of God, set by the example of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who ultimately gave the most commanding demonstration of love there ever was.  He humbly laid down His life for the sake of love itself, for us, for all.   He is certainly worthy of all praise and honor and glory!

Jesus said, “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” This one statement is becoming more and more profound today, reminding us to make sure we are NOT the deliverer of offense, or even worse, pointing fingers at the ones who are offended and hurt.  Deflection is rampant, reflection and remorseful repentance is required or salvation can be lost in the cares of this world resulting in a love that waxes colder and colder.

My prayer is that we, in unity, display the love of Jesus, in contrast to what the world offers.  For after all, they will know us by our love…  Pure and void of self.  Lord Jesus, help me, help us, reflect more of You. May each one of you abide blessed in His love forevermore.

?Collectively in Love,

Angela & LayLay

SALT In The Wounds

?The Lord woke me on November 17, 2017 at 5:45 with a pivotal message to the Bride of Christ. 

Oftentimes we carry old wounds from the past into the present.  And this should not be so, for those of us who follow Jesus, but sadly it is the case occasionally for us, as well.  How this plays out is in often in our reactions and our speech.  It seems we will have savor like salt all year long and then when faced with adversity we lose our focus a bit. Our main focus should always be Jesus in order we maintain a Godly influence in those we come into contact with insuring we enter in peace with those around us.  The Lord helps us through instruction from the Word of God on how to stay sure footed in Him, walking uprightly in Him, just as we were called to do.

My prayer is that by gaining this understanding we will not only be at peace with all men, but also embrace the joy which comes with spending extra time with those we love and those the Lord has placed into our lives for a season.

Mathew 5:13 tells us – You are the salt of the Earth.

Keeping that in mind, before we get into the Word let’s define what SALT actually is according to the Greek definition.

SALT –

Seasons, fertilizes, protects, preserves, is used in partaking together and most importantly it is: DEMONSTRATING WISDOM AND GRACE THROUGH WHAT YOU SAY

So as we go over a few Scriptures today keep that truth in mind, asking yourself – Is this me?  We will let the Holy Spirit be our guide, as we study and gain wisdom in order that during what some may call a potential stressful situation, we can be used as vessels of honor and not dishonor.

After we study I am going to share some scenarios the Lord has laid upon my heart – I guess you could call them some do’s and don’ts and how to show mercy and grace to family and friends.

It is true many of us feel like misfits our outcasts in the World.  Some of this is unwarranted, however, there are times we have been too salty in our interactions with others, causing us to not walk in peace with all men.  I will explain more about that later.

Let’s get into the Word and let the Holy Spirit teach us, knowing we cannot change another but rather be submissive to obedience through the washing of the Word, because the Word is actually a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths and hopefully, after today it will also be what comes out of our mouths, seasoned with salt – displaying grace and mercy.

~James 3~

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. Do not follow many masters, as the brethren we will suffer greater judgment.  For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.  Perfect men do not offend anyone with things that do not matter – they also bridle the tongue, knowing when to speak and what to say which is in line with the Holy Spirit at all times.  Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.  [He connects bridling the tongue with obedience here].  Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. You are compared to a mighty ship who is great, unmovable by fierce winds – when the tongue is bridled.  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  Even so the tongue is such a small piece of our body – when boasting great things [remember that for later] it will kindle a fire.  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, [This is personal and collective upon the Body of Christ] and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. [He compares the tongue to a world of iniquity, which defiles the whole body on a course of flesh which leads to hell itself] For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  No man can tame it because it is so unruly, evil and spews deadly poison. [Remember how we have been talking so much about what is inside is spewing out? This is because of the tongue.  Everywhere we look right now we are seeing vengeance demonstrated over and over]  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

Wow – this should cause us all to sit up a little straighter… BLESS GOD even THE FATHER and yet we curse men who are made in the likeness of HIM.

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. [He corrects any wrong thinking in this verse – In other words, if the well or heart is tainted so is the speech.  The demonstration comes in the following verse.] Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

A wise man with KNOWLEDGE knows what to say, to who and when to say it because HE CONTAINS MEEKNESS, having wisdom – Basically, he knows those in his company at any given moment.

 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

We know out of the mouth flow the issues of the heart – so the heart condition is reflected and the tongue cannot hide what is within.  If there is bitterness, envy or strife in self glory if not contained we will lie against truth.

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

This wisdom is NOT FROM ABOVE it is earthly and sensual and resembles devils when they speak. (Giving evil reports manifests in this way and those with discernment recognize it immediately)

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

The fruit of evil reports brings:  envy, strife, CONFUSION and glorifying of evil work as if it is set to prosper – THIS IS ALL WISDOM FROM BELOW

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

HERE IS WISDOM FROM ABOVE:  PURE!! Peaceable, gentle, easy to give/receive, full of mercy, is seen demonstrated as good fruit, does not run to and fro and is the same all the time in every situation – no hypocrisy.

 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

We have been talking a lot about reaping what we sow.  This verse tells us to display – sow – righteous acts/speech so in return we reap peace.

Although that was totally amazing… There is more!?

Mark Chapter 9 speaks much about offending little ones.

49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Salt is good when we are preserved and used in the Kingdom ways:

Seasons, fertilizes, protects, preserves, is used in partaking together and most importantly it is ~ DEMONSTRATING WISDOM AND GRACE THROUGH WHAT YOU SAY

This oracle is given so we BE AT PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

Mathew 5 I love because it contains the Beatitudes which is basically an instruction reserved for us.  They were given during a time Jesus pulled the disciples away from everyone else and spoke directly to them.

This is what Jesus said:

1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH.  He says if we lose our savor (our influence) we cannot demonstrate His wisdom and grace on the Earth.  Instead, His word that is to be carried forth, will be trodden (insulted, neglected and ignored) by men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

We are to do GOOD WORKS – not in order to enter into Heaven, but rather so OTHERS GLORIFY OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.

When we lose influence over others by foolish vain talk and evil reports, those we have been placed to be that light in the darkness will not even hear us, but rather cast us and the words we carry away.  The Father will send another across their path – but why would we not prefer it to be us, letting go of all past hurts and desires to be right?

For this reason we must ask ourselves – Are we saying what the Spirit is saying to people or do we just want to show we have some knowledge and be right?  And just what is the knowledge we are trying to speak?  Is it Worldly or an evil report or is it the Gospel of Jesus?

A good way to check yourself is to look into the mirror of the Word.  Read about the Apostles – pay close attention to what they said and to who.  I don’t see anywhere in Scripture where they spoke about alien invasions, sexual flatteries, micro-chipping and such.  I am not saying there is not a place and time to speak of such things – What I am saying is it is probably not appropriate dinner talk around the Thanksgiving table when you are in mixed company.   We must ask ourselves at all times – Are my words salt like delivering a good report to those in ear shot?

You have Aunt Bertha who flew in from Seattle and you haven’t seen her in 20 years so I really don’t think it is salt like to tell her fireballs are gonna rain down on her roof as fallen angels and eat her alive.  Nor do you want to overwhelm brother Bob that is mad at you anyway from how you condemn him for getting drunk every Christmas so you ruin all the hours your mom spent cooking dinner because you tell Bob how hell is being expanded just for him should he not change his ways.

I know I am being a little facetious here but if the truth is known we have all been too salty at times.  I can always tell when someone drunk with the World comes intoa gathering place, can you?  They are frantic, giving evil reports left and right – I always know when they dined and drank from an unfamiliar well and want to spew it all over the place.  We must ask ourselves…  What message are we sending to others anyway?  Is it all about Jesus?  Because if not, we need to bridle our tongues and be more in tune with the Holy Spirit because that is Who the Holy Spirit speaks of, all the time – JESUS.

We are told to be wise and gentle… Somehow it seems we have gentleness for many except our own family and those closest to us.  They are tired of listening to us… Have we asked why?  Do we actually mirror HIM or something else absent of love?  Sadly, because of our own drunkenness with the world and evil itself, we have misspoke too many times to remember, resulting in many being turned off to Jesus.  This truth is no small matter in the Lord’s eyes.

There are others who are so passive aggressive that they do not say anything, but the words are written all over their face.  That too is not Christlike.

Obamacare

Politics

Conspiracy theories

Condemnation

Religion

CHECK THESE THINGS AT THE DOOR when we enter in peace to a gathering.  Preach the Gospel to your family and friends through the guidance of the Holy Spirit – using words only when necessary – be SALT and LIGHT this season and above all – What does the Word say?  LOVE, for it truly covers a multitude of sins, our own and other’s.

In my family – we have so much diversity we try to avoid all appearances of evil and in order for it not to operate we check many opinions at the door.  We resist the enemy this way and he must flee in order LOVE PREVAIL.

Wanting to be right opens doors, seeking to only love others closes them.?

So my prayer is that we all go forth as Salt and Light, not to turn the World upside down with strife but rather to unite in the love of Jesus.