christian sociopath and criminals

BE WISE IN OUR COMPASSION: Judas Iscariot, sociopath (updated 12/20/16)

12/20/16: I am led to read this article again today as it appeared suddenly in my top ten list. Why? Is it because a case involving the same lawyer who seemingly has chosen to live by flesh has recently emerged? Previously after the incident I described in my following older blog I had noted a personality type described as sociopath but I did not really look at the subject much as I knew that my loss of money on this individual was due to my love of God (through my foolishly believing so).
But today I remember another more prominent case concerning a high ranking individual and the subject came up again in my conversation with an elder loved one while discussing dysfunctional human being. Like Judas Iscariot, there are persons in this world we cannot understand. They are human. But there seems a lacking in their make-up. Something inside is missing. When I tried to explain to the elder I could not find an exact word.
The closest I could say was there seemed a lack of humanness (which includes conscience , kindness/compassion and a sense of shame in doing wrong and or causing harm to others) in these individuals. According to the Bible, they have no fear of God. Yet they are purportedly Christians. Are they saved? Or do they belong to the brood of vipers Jesus had warned? Are they the tares sown in the churches by the enemy of God? I have no answer. Was Judas Iscariot capable of loving Jesus? It appeared he wasn’t. The apostle Paul placed a curse on anyone who could not love Jesus.
1 Corinthians 16:22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!

Originally posted on  03/21/2016

Today’s word is: “BEWARE OF THIEF-JUDAS ISCARIOT”. My personal inability to hear and obey the Holy Spirit in spiritual discernment which impacted my decisions in worldly matters was indeed very costly! The thief is not someone who comes from outside. The culprit is fellow Christian whom we are close to and trust like family. Let us read this message from the Holy Bible (NKJV), John 12:4-6. (Boldness added)

4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii[b] and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

Several years ago I was alerted when the Lord opened this verse about Judas Iscariot to me when a friend and I decided to financially bail out a Christian lawyer who was dishonest in handling her clients’ money. The clients found out and demanded restitutions. She had by then squandered off the money to satisfy her personal lifestyle. I chose to ignore the Lord’s warning because we trusted then the other Christians who were associated with her. We paid a significantly large sum out of our love for God. It later turned out that our decision was wrong and foolish.

I made the same mistake of compassion for the poor a year ago for another Christian. I got my kind Christian friend involved too to bail out a Christian woman from loan sharks. The same verse came but I chose to ignore out of love for God. I was proven wrong immediately after the transfer of money.

In both the above cases I heard the word “witchcraft; sorceries”. I later realized that we were blinded by witchcraft and sorcery. The wrong spirit was there when they opened door to evil. Being Christians who are always too trusting my friend and I chose to ignore the Lord and gave them the benefit of the doubts in a humanistic way. Our inability to hear and obey the Holy Spirit in spiritual discernment which impacted our decisions in worldly matters was indeed very costly!

 Two days ago I was warned of this term “beware of pickpocket” as I was approaching a bus-stop. My spirit received the message not to use the bus. But my companion was adamant as we had to learn how to live humbly to prepare ourselves to serve in poor places. I did not like the look of three men sitting there alone. The warning in my sprit was clear and loud. So I took precaution. But I did not warn my fellow traveler for fear she would feel insulted because why should I hear the Lord and she could not hear? True enough she became the victim. The thieves ran off after their successful stealing when boarding the bus.

.But this morning again I was alerted to this verse. Because of the urgency and repetitions, I decided to put this down in writing.

I love Christians. Because they are God’s people. Because I love God. Jesus must have loved Judas Iscariot. But the ending for Judas Iscariot was horrifying. He did not repent to Jesus and ask for forgiveness. He went another way, opposite to where Jesus went. You see, Judas Iscariot was not unloved. He was not rejected. He was treated well and equally as the other disciples were. He was given a high and responsible status as someone entrusted with the money bag of the whole ministry of Jesus Christ. He was the financial controller of the first Christian ministry on earth. Lots of followers of Jesus put in their money. Lots of people wanted to be the disciples of Jesus. Living together with Jesus and the other disciples, what kind of lifestyle did Judas live? Where could he have spent the money he stole from the bag? what did he do when he purportedly went out to give the money to the poor? Surely many people would have seen and noticed his different lifestyle. Surely the other disciples knew of his spending habits and tastes for more expensive stuff. But no one said anything. Not one record in the Bible of any other disciple advising him or counseling him or suggesting to Jesus to make another the money custodian.

In the corporate world we look at the lifestyle and taste of an employee and take note. Is his or her lifestyle incongruous with his net earning? Where does he get his money from? is he to be trusted with the corporate account? We check police records prior employment. We ask questions and take instant remedial or precautionary steps immediately. Jesus says that the manager of the world is wiser than the Christian manager. (“For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.” Luke 16:8) We practice good and accountable stewardship in the corporate world I know of.

I pray that the born again Christians whom I know and love continue to abide in Jesus and let God’s words abide in them. Don’t go the opposite way. It’s not worth it. I pray each encounters God in reality, as Spirit. I have personally encountered my God in the Spirit. He is real. No amount of enjoyment in the flesh (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life) is worth giving up God for. With God, everything is possible. You can be changed to wholeness in Christ. Even Judas Iscariot. Be changed. PUT TO DEATH YOURSELF. 

COVETOUSNESS IS IDOLATRY

Colossians 3:4-6 New King James Version (NKJV)

4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,

Jesus says, 

Matthew 16:26

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

The above is

relevant today

I quote below additional online resources on this matter:
Question: “What does the Bible say about a person who is a sociopath / psychopath?”

[Answer: The terms sociopath and psychopath do not appear in the Bible. However, the Bible does mention behaviors that are characteristic of those that today are described by the nearly synonymous terms sociopathic and psychopathic.

In today’s criminal and psychological literature, a sociopath or psychopath is identified as one who is characterized by extreme self-centeredness and immaturity, shallow emotions (including reduced fear, a lack of empathy and remorse, low tolerance for stress, and little response to positive motivations), cold-heartedness, superficial charm, irresponsibility, impulsivity, criminality, a parasitic lifestyle and a desire to manipulate others. A psychopath is one who compulsively performs criminally selfish acts with no apparent conscience or concern about the welfare of his victims.

The Bible identifies such sociopathic and psychopathic behavior as among the severest moral and spiritual effects of man’s fall into sin. Jesus described such sins as arising from evil hearts (Mark 7:20–23). The apostle Paul identified godlessness as the root of such a deadly heart (Romans 1:28–32). The sociopathic heart produces the worst characteristics of sinful man’s nature (Romans 8:5–8), the worst effects of both genetic and environmental moral degradation. Early in human history, God wiped out all but eight people because of such universally incorrigible behavior (Genesis 6:5–13). Deuteronomy 21:18–21 prescribes for the Old Testament nation of Israel the legal consequence of such behavior: execution by stoning. Apparently, such behavior was considered by God to be so disruptive and damaging to the family and to society, so contrary to the character of the people that bore His name and supposedly reflected His image, as to be intolerable.

The New Testament does not offer specifics on civic dealing with these serious problems. Its teachings about morality and immorality of every kind, and its hopeful appeals and invitations to repentance, conversion, and transformed life in Christ, certainly apply to a psychopath as to any sinner. Paul, describing conduct that included sociopathic characteristics, wrote to one congregation of believers in Jesus Christ, “Such were some of you” (1 Corinthians 6:9–11, emphasis added). God is able to rescue and restore to righteousness the most corrupt heart. See Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:1–17; Romans 7; Romans 8:1–17 and 28–30.]

The above quote is from this link: (https://gotquestions.org/sociopath-psychopath.html) 

Journey to see God: See as Mary sees

In this message today, the Spirit of the Lord showed us three disciples of Jesus and how they differed in seeing God -Jesus. The disciples are: Mary, Lazarus, and Judas Iscariot. ____________________________Here are the Bible verses. The watchman’s notes are after the Bible verses.

John 12:1-11 (ESV) Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for Him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound[a] of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[b] and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it[c] for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus[d] was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

Footnotes:

1.John 12:3 Greek litra; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams

2.John 12:5 A denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer

3.John 12:7 Or Leave her alone; she intended to keep it

4.John 12:9 Greek he

_____________Watchman’s notes

 Jesus was the main character. He came to a home where they prepared a dinner for Him. A number of His disciples and even large crowd were there. The hostess, Martha served them. There were three other main characters: Lazarus, Mary and Judas Iscariot, all disciples of Jesus.

 Lazarus, a disciple who was raised to life from dead: There was no record of his spoken words. He merely testified Jesus, the Son of God, and the mighty work of God, the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus operated in, by being himself. He was alive and well. He sat close to Jesus. He was not afraid of death (or the threat of death from the chief priests) anymore. He became an overcomer just by being with Jesus.

 Mary, a disciple who sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His teaching, believed Him, and was the only disciple who acted according to what she received from HIs Spirit-filled message (which all other disciples had failed to hear or understood as they continued to be hindered by their flesh). She was the first and only disciple who discerned spiritual things which Jesus spoke about prior His crucifixion and death on the cross. The rest of the disciples had to wait till after the Lord's resurrection and after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Day. How did Mary make it ahead of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit?

 The key is in what Jesus said in Luke 11:34-36. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” Mary had spent her life soaking in Jesus' presence and His words. Her eyes were filled with His light. Jesus knew and spoke of her eternal reward.

 Today, disciples of Jesus can receive the same from the Holy Spirit. The following verses explain this: 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (ESV) 16 But when one[a] turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord[b] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[c]are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Judas Iscariot: the disciple who was a thief. He later betrayed His master Jesus for the same price that Mary had given up for the same Lord Jesus. Jesus knew what he did and what he would do. Yet Jesus spoke to him and commented on his statement about the poor. Why? Jesus gave him another chance, “But you do not always have Me.” Judas still could not comprehend. He was filled with the world and was led by his flesh. He could not even wait a bit longer as he heard of Jesus’ forthcoming death. He did not want to lose the one last way of making some earthly fortune from Jesus. what good would Jesus be to him as a dead person? He figured.

Alas, this is the usual way an unspiritual man thinks. The signs and wonders are all supernatural but he just could not comprehend. His eyes are veiled when he reads the Bible. Only when oney turns to the Holy Spirit, the veil will be removed.

God’s Way is spiritual. Spiritual way is narrow and hard but it is the only way to life. Only the Spirit of life can show us this way.

Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV) 13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Footnotes:

 1.Matthew 7:13 Some manuscripts For the way is wide and easy

spiritual journey 2012 in review: further sailing on uncharted waters

2012 has turned out to be a year of impossible changes. To men it was impossible. To God nothing is impossible. So the watchman has observed.

The watchman did considerable watching through out the year albeit missing the signs completely at certain crucial moments. He paid for such costly omissions.

The following are some examples of how some signs were ignored or were accurately heeded:

1. When someone wanted to give a large sum of money to help to bail out a church member, believing that the Holy Spirit has told her to do so, the watchman received a warning in the words of God. His Bible turned to 'Judas Iscariot' at least twice at that time. He did not persuade the person not to give the money because he did not want to be accused of presuming that others could not hear the Holy Spirit accurately. So they went ahead. The condition was that the person went for healing and deliverance after her bail-out. It did not happen. In his latest journey to see God, he again interceded for the person when the Lord showed him the word ‘Judas Iscariot’ (Mark 3:19) while praying in the Spirit with another intercessor. At the end of the prayer, the other intercessor told him not to intercede for that person again as the case would be closed on 31-12-2012 if that person does not repent by that date. This requires a miracle as 31st December is only a day away.

2. On the other hand, he did the appropriate intercession when prompted by the Lord while praying in the Spirit on that same occasion. He saw the verse on ‘Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:29) and the name of a pastor came to his spirit. So he interceded for that pastor. When he finished praying the intercessor told him the case broke through. He was happy and relieved. He walked by faith and not by sight.

3. In another case the signs were very clear, as they built up in momentum over a short period of months. He received the clear verse to depart from a 'place of worship' on 30th June 2012. He hesitated but events soon took place at an accelerated rate to confirm the signs (which came to him in the Bible words). Others received similar warning words too and conveyed to him. Dreams, visions and words combined through revelation received by a few persons gave him the final leading to ‘run’.

Spiritual discernment is a absolute must for a spiritual watchman intercessor. It requires faith. it also takes time. The watchman is thankful that throughout the journey he had access to other watchmen and intercessors. Their prayers and advice indeed helped him to avoid some pitfalls. He has been humbled and had to make adjustments in his lifestyle.
He has learned that the Lord demands the best. Knowing the Lord is the number one priority for all watchmen. There is no substitution for reading God’s word (the Bible). Living by the Spirit and being led by the Spirit (as required of all sons of God) require obedience and constant practice too.

He was led to read the Bible from the beginning to see God. The Old Testament characters provide rich food for his spiritual journey. His lifestyle changes mainly involved redistribution of time: sleep time, wake time, eat time, fast time, Bible reading and meditating time, praying in the Spirit and singing in the Spirit time, praying in understanding time, discipleship time and teaching time, worship time and time spent before God. The changes involve quality change and quantity change as well. His life has never been so fulfilled before.

Overall he would describe the year 2012 as a year of signs and wonders for his little world. He has been comforted by the Lord in answered prayers (including undeserved favor and mercy) for some of his own family members and also blessings for the few families who worship with him and diligently seek God even at odd hours, determined to know God at all costs!