With every conquest their own pride grows. You can actually visually see it in them as they believe they have gained even more control over you or others. How ugly, how gross it is to witness, and it only becomes worse as their prideful, arrogance grows.
A huge issue with people like this is that they are not happy or joyful in life, and it shows on them, in their faces, their postures, their body language. Their whole being seems to be consumed and aimed at controlling and manipulating others. Their number one job is to be "on top" of whatever is happening so that they never lose control.
Prideful, arrogant people will deny this vehemently. They will argue that they are more joyful and happy than you, they will even preach how godly they are, saying, of course, that they are joyful, but their demeanor betrays their words. Bitterness becomes intertwined in their pride as they become even more ugly on the inside and out.
I have seen bitterness. It is putrid and gross, ugly and offensive, so much so that it makes a person recoil from them----unless you happen to be one of their controlled and manipulated people. If this is you, then you always agree with them, and you help them "back up" on their pedestal of pride.
Prideful, arrogance. Can you imagine living like this? It is horrid and gross to think of it.
If this describes you---then quit it! Cry out to God for forgiveness, accept His grace! and apologize to everyone for your sins!
--------------------------------------------------------------
***If you find that you are one who has been "caught" by a controlling, manipulating, deceitful, prideful, arrogant person, Cry out to God to help you escape! Never fear! He always gives a way to escape!!!!
1 Corinthians 10:12-14, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry."
----------------------------------------------------------------
Hebrews 12:12-15
"Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble
and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled"
James 3:13
"Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."
Ephesians 4:25-32
"Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
and do not give the devil an opportunity.
He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."
Proverbs 26:24-28
"He who hates disguises it with his lips,
But he lays up deceit in his heart.
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart.
Though his hatred covers itself with guile,
His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
He who digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
And a flattering mouth works ruin."
Galatians 5:13-26
"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another."
*
Oh, LORD God, save!
6 comments:
Hi Jill,
Wonderful Scriptures for this topic!
Fruit of the Holy Spirit: SELF-control.
Fruit of the world/flesh/devil: control of OTHERS (ie, witchcraft)
It's an interesting observation that people who try to control others cannot control themselves. People who use their tongues with sarcasm (or a critical spirit, or gossip, busybody, slander, you name it!) to tear apart or tear down others, are never peaceful or joyful within themselves.
Their foot shall slip in due time (Deus 32:35).
-Carolyn
Thank you, Carolyn, for your thoughtful comments. So true!
You're welcome!
And that should have been Deut 32:35. Not Deus. I think autocorrect changed it on me...
-Carolyn
Yes, auto-correct is wonderful, but it does have mind of its own.
I have also been thinking of your first comment and it is this: Controlling people control, but they also try to destroy other's lives by just stating a pernicious lie about you.
Sounds very much like our current cultural climate.
The LORD is the Only One we can seek to trust.
Hi Jill,
"Controlling people control, but they also try to destroy other's lives by just stating a pernicious lie about you. "
YES! If they can't control you, then they try to destroy you with slander.
The father of all lies is the devil. Slander is one of his favorite weapons of destruction.
And I agree, it does sound like our current cultural climate.
-Carolyn
Yes, it is enough to cause such frustration, anger, and even fester bitterness in us.
The joy is found in the LORD who helps us grieve, vent, and process it all so that we can continue living our lives for Him without drowning in bitterness.
Praises to the LORD God Almighty! Where would we be without Him?!!!
Post a Comment