|
| Alter-egos and other disguises |
|
| |
1 Corinthians 13:11 KJV When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Shalom brethren. I've done a lot of one on one ministry in the last 7 years although I've been active in ministry for 18 years, and I minister online to people almost every day. What I see in the body of Christ really concerns me and troubles me in my spirit. There is a great majority of "believers" that are no where near where they should be in Christ although many project an image of holiness or hide behind a religious mask. These are just mere disguises we use to cover up a lot of the mess that is within us. Much of this is due to an inability to get past issues that have left many of us traumatized, wounded, or just bitter and resentful. The truth is that we ALL have "issues" and if we say that we don't we are only kidding ourselves. This is why we need the Holy Ghost to continually work in us to sanctify and perfect us through the word of God. Some of us have been able to get past more issues than others so we have the privilege of helping others to loose the shackles, chains and the yokes that still bind them. A lot of you won't be able to accept this or take this in and that is just a sign that there is a problem. Denial and ignorance won't make the issues go away, which is why the book of James tells us to confess our faults one to another. That doesn’t mean that we confess our sins in a confessional booth or to go around telling people your problems. Faults refer to defects and imperfections. It’s ok to be vulnerable. That's a sign of humility. We won't be completely perfect until we meet Jesus in the sky so we are all works in progress. Once these issues are brought up to the surface from deep within our hearts by the Holy Ghost you can deal with them instead of allowing the fear of dealing with things to continue to cripple you and keep you in bondage. It’s ok to allow the real you to come out. Those things you try to project are not you. They are just a part of the disguises. The real you isn't such a bad person. You just never gave yourself an opportunity to allow people to see what you are really like. Some of us are like frightened little children on the inside and we have so much fear and insecurity we need to put on the costume of the big ugly monster to frighten and push people away so no one can see that we are really sensitive underneath that tough exterior. You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to share what some examples of alter-egos are so you can relate. One of my alter-egos was like the cartoon character Underdog..."There's no need to fear, Underdog is here!” I felt I needed to be the one that made everything right in my own little world. My father made me responsible for my brother’s actions. When they did something wrong I got their beating as well as a beating for not watching over them better. My father was vicious and cruel as well as being a womanizer and a drunk. When my parents finally got divorced in 1974 I made it my fault for not being a better son or a better this or a better that. So I lived with this deep guilt and resentment and beat myself up for many years. That was just a cover up for another disguise, Casper the friendly Ghost, (not the Holy Ghost). All I wanted was a friend and whenever I got close to anyone I scared them away. This is because I projected more of the anger that was within me and there was nothing friendly about that. But the other disguise was even worse, more like King Kong and Godzilla rolled into one; if anybody got too close I became violent and destructive, I wouldn't let people get close to me and if they got in my space I would go off. A lot of other problems can result from these types of alter-egos such as addictions, promiscuity, deviant sexual behavior and extreme personality disorders. A lot of times what psychiatrists refer to as mental illness, and what some people may discern to be demonic activity is nothing more than the games we play while shifting from one alter-ego to another. Much of this can derive from physical, emotional verbal and/or sexual abuse, low self esteem or a lack of a Godly family structure during early stages of development. This might make some of you laugh and others may feel very uncomfortable but you did it too and some of you are still doing it. I see mothers that try to be supermom always trying to do everything for their children running all over the place while trying to shield them from experiencing life the way they did. Some mothers have 30 year old children at home still. There are things you did that your parents never knew about. You know what I'm talking about! All the frustration of not being able to meet all the needs turns supermom into Oscar the Grouch. That’s nothing to be ashamed of though. Now that you can see it you can do something about it.
Ephesians 4:22 KJV That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
The solution is simple. Just take off those dirty clothes. (The old man) Strip off those alter-egos and disguises and masks.
Ephesians 4:23 KJV And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
We need to change the way we think. It didn't work for us before, so what makes us think it will work for us now? Just like Benjamin Franklin said once. He defined insanity as repeating the same behavior over and over and expecting different results. You know what the problem is? You keep digging in the hamper for those same dirty clothes you took off. People don't normally take off dirty clothes and then bathe and put the same dirty clothes back on. You put on clean clothes.
Philippians 4:8 KJV Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.
These are the kind of things that we should be thinking about. It’s not as hard as we make things look. We just allow too many worldly influences to cloud our judgment. We allow our emotions to dictate who we are so that we cannot attain the fullness of Christ. This is the Modus Operandi (MO, mode of operation) of the devil. How can the devil be influencing a child of God? That’s very simple. Thou shalt not lie. When you project something other than who you are that is falsehood, the same as a lie. We need to repent.
Ephesians 4:24 KJV And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
That's the new man. That other one should still be on the bottom of the baptismal pool or the river or the lake you were baptized in. You know what? I started to come out of my shell well before I came to Christ. I found out that the real me hiding behind all the facades was someone people liked to be around. People were interested in what I had to say. I lost my fear of what people thought about me and I became bolder in the way I expressed myself. The problem was I still had a lot of anger issues to deal with which took me a while to get over but I eventually got over them a long time ago. Sure there are things that I don't even remember because I had buried them so deep. That's why God is so good because he searches our hearts and lets us see that a lot of the times it’s not always the other person. The problem is in us. Then when these things do come to the surface don't try to keep it down. The reason we struggle is because we keep trying to resist change. I heard someone say once that if she didn't have the anger she didn't know how she can cope. The reason we never developed emotionally is that we avoid going through the emotions. You see that's what being born-again really is about. We get another chance to get it right. This will help you to understand the concept of the first Adam and the Second Adam. The first one messed up but the second one made it right. A baby doesn't know anything when it is born but when we get born again we think we know everything. That's why Jesus said we have to become as a child. We need to get it together brethren. How are you going to be able to minister effectively if you still got issues you need to deal with? I hope this helps some of you. Some of you will just get Very defensive and some will even get critical but it’s alright. That just shows that you need to really do some soul searching and see where the issues originated. If you need to talk and you need some help to get through some of the junk I'm here for you. Through God I have been able to help many people. Don't even try to do this if you're not serious. I'll say things that you are not going to like because it will hit a nerve. The truth hurts. Don't hate though because as a Prophet God uses me this way, and he tells me stuff about people but it’s all for good. God has allowed me to help transform many people's lives, and I've seen families reconciled and marriages restored, and I enjoy seeing the results of sound teaching and biblical truth. Don't keep shuffling your feet around and hold your head up and pull your shoulders back. Walk like a child of the King. Tell the devil to loose that tongue and start talking like you have the authority the bible says you have. Stop wallowing in self-pity and don't allow fear to cause you to continue in the same behavior you had before you came to Christ. It’s all about Jesus! God bless you and shalom! |
|
| To add a comment to "Alter-egos and other disguises" |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
 |
|
|
 [star!] |
Man, Jay, you are all over what I shared this past Sunday, how we we put on this act. The word we get hypocrisy from, in the Greek means actor. We put on one face for a moment and then later another. God sees through all of that stuff.
Also what I want to share this coming Sunday. We need to take inventory. Search ourselves. I really like how you say, "The real you isn't such a bad person." Some just cannot get that brother.
Encouraging, confirming words Jay. Thanks. |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| [star!] |
i really needed to read your message today |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| [star!] |
Shalom to you and your family my friend |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| [star!] |
What amazes me is how you had a less than ideal childhood, but grew to be who you are now in the Lord. What a testimony! I don't know if you have a counseling degree or a degree in divinity, but your message sounds like you do. It is packed with many helpful explanations and advice. I do realize that this wisdom can come solely from self study in the word of God, being lead by the Holy Spirit, and of course, prayer. I am grateful for you and all the guidance you offer. |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| [star!] |
I hear you Prophet, Amen |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| [star!] |
Thanks for sharing - especially the testimony part. The REAL us is Him in us, which is His purpose for us (Christ in you, the hope of glory). The FAKE us is the us we try too much to hold on to, and project to others. You're right, it's time to own up to who we've been trying to be, without success, and to allow Him to be the Potter; to accept that we are the clay, and give in to His shaping and molding us into what He intends, which cannot be done without the power of the Holy Ghost and His Word. And you're right, more of us need to be real about this thing; it's only then that we can become...conformed to the image of His Son. |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| [star!] |
AMEN! :) Authentic believers are the BEST! "Perfect" believers offer no safe harbor for the broken and wounded. Humble, imperfect believers encourage without intimidating, inspire without condemning, and can say those "hard words" of conviction that we need to hear, but say them in such a way that we feel their genuine Christlike love radiating through every word! Powerful stuff! |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| [star!] |
|
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| I read this and know it was meant for me..indeed.
Praying that I can let go of all the anger and resentment I carry and have for 4 decades....
It's unhealthy and unpleasant to God- I know...
Which brings me to a question - why do bad people prosper?
Blessings to you*
|
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
Philippians 4:8 KJV Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.
Amen.
|
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| [star!] |
|
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| awesome,you truly are a man of the most high God!!! |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| [star!] |
|
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| [star!] |
|
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| [star!] |
Your testimony is what has given me hope for my grandson Matthew. I think my problem is that I haven't put away all the childish things. When we are small, our feelings get hurt, when we are grown, our feelings get hurt. I have see children hurt each other one minute, and playing the next. On the other hand, I have seen grown adults hurt each other, and keep on hurting each other. I have been trying to figure out where my walk is taking me. I feel like I have become stagnant, an I don't know what I'm suppose to be doing. I need some help |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| [star!] |
Brother Jay I enjoyed this as much today as I did the first time I read it...I believe you posted this before, a while back...(smile)...Powerful word and full of truth.....Keep em coming my friend ;o) |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| Your welcome Jerry! |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| I'm glad you received it Sharon! |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| Shalom to you as well Marcia |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| Amen Rev. Clark! |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| Thanx GrammyB! |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| well Lynn if you need to talk I would be willing to help you through the stuff you are dealing with |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| Thanx stacy! |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| Yes Jimmie but I am just a man faults and all! |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| Thanx for the star Reen! |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| Thanx for the Star LizBell |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| Until we are like HIM,we will have faults.Aren't you glad we are seen as "pure and white as the wind driven snow"??Without blemish and righteous!!! Through HIS blood!!! |
|
|
| May 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
WHOA THAT WAS DEEP, feels like that what I needed to hear thanks again Prophet Jay and glad to read your raw and honest straight to the point blogs,forget the star,I will give you the moon.......... |
|
|
| May 21, 2009 |
|
|
|
| [star!] |
Powerful truth Brother. Thanks. |
|
|
| May 25, 2009 |
|
|
|
AMEN. I know that I have struggled with lustful thoughts, until just yesterday when I finally swallowed my pride and went forward because the Holy Spirit put a vision in me of me going forward, and at first I thought well I'm in ministry and a good christian (pride there) and I'll be ok, but I went forward as soon as Pastor Franklin said swallow your pride, and I was cleansed and refilled with the Holy Spirit and a new sense of discernment that I didn't have before, and i needed to hear this teaching to further confirm how God wants me to act and be transparent. God prosper you in every way a 100 fold in Jesus name, JT |
|
|
| May 30, 2009 |
|
|
|
| [star!] |
|
|
|
Follow this blog
