Beware of Narcissists in the church.

        Just sharing a learning that I personally experienced and then later got to learn from many experts in the field. I heard this one from Dr. Mishel and feel it is important to share just to help anyone out there who are going through the same circumstances.  I'm not saying that anyone who is in the leadership role in the church is a narcissist but what we must understand is that narcissists do intentionally seek out roles within the church.  Narcissists love power and control and they are automatically drawn to positions that give them authority.

They do this because people who generally go to church are seeking something from within the church. They are seeking something from an almighty power or a power higher than themselves and there's nothing a narcissist loves more than someone who is vulnerable and seeking guidance. The narc uses this position of authority within the church to get them access to people who are looking for something.  For a narcissist, the church is a playground for them to have this great reputation where they feel like no one will question what they are doing or what they say because the members of the church assume them to be moral and righteous. 

Therefore, pay attention if you are part of a church and you see someone who holds a position of authority, whether it be over a member, or the whole congregation, and if something doesn't seem quite right, as in, they don't appear to be living outside the church as they pretend and preach to be living inside the church. Beware!!

Wearing the helmet of Salvation is confessing what Jesus did on the Cross

 Here's a new learning!! I often wondered how does putting on the full armour of God work out practically. Recently, I got part of the answer. One defence mechanism is to wear the helmet of salvation. I understand that wearing the helmet is believing and confessing what Jesus did on the cross. That's when I started searching what Jesus did on the cross. Got my hands on Derick Prince's book "The Divine Exchange". Learn to confess the following.

Jesus took away my weaknesses

Jesus was pierced for our rebellion/iniquity

Jesus was crushed for our sins

Jesus was beaten so we could be made whole (my lack)

Jesus was whipped so we could be healed. (my sickness)

Isaiah 53: 4,5,6

Jesus personally carried our sins in his body on the cross 1 Pet 2:24

Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. Heb 2:9b

Jesus endured our poverty to share his abundance.

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:8

Jesus endured the cross, disregarding its shame.

Heb 12:2

Jesus took my rejection. Matt 27:46 - “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

Jesus took my curse.

13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. Galatians 3:13.

[What Jesus exchanged on the cross is mentioned in bold.]