Note:
The following message is the first part of a teaching that consists of two parts and we recommend to read the message chronologically.

 

Unfortunately, it happens that in the Ekklēsia - the church of Christ we come into contact with believers who have a narcissistic attitude. This attitude among believers also has a negative effect from our long experience in the marriage of believers or shows up in terms of problems within families as well as communities.

 

 

In the broadest sense, narcissism is the form of mentally exaggerated self-centeredness, self-love and self-admiration of a person who considers himself more important and significant than people in his immediate environment characterize him.

 

Narcissistic personalities tend, to varying degrees, to have an unhealthy and disproportionate attitude that demands others always pay attention to them, even when they are absent (Note: ‘everything revolves around him/her’). They usually want to be able to determine everything or, at best, have ‘everything and everyone’ at their disposal in order to see their needs or goals fulfilled, which is why they are initially experienced by others as strong or self-confident.

 

However, this experience usually changes drastically within relationships, where others increasingly see their own needs as neglected when they repeatedly line up themselves with the person with narcissistic attitudes. In doing so, they often experience being ignored, rejected, or even judged as ‘selfish’ or not loving enough, which often leads them into a vicious circle with the narcissistic personality, as this person rejects criticism from others or wishes to make changes and can tolerate little to nothing if they are not encouraged in their views or obediently supported.

 

People with narcissistic attitudes unfortunately rarely realize that they have this attitude and that it is the reason for unhappiness, distance and other problems within relationships with them. They lack empathy, real humility and also love for others with their needs and boundaries, which is why they do not want to get involved with others - or only as far as they need to for their own purposes or needs.

 

Everyone who points out to narcissistic personalities their self-centered, demanding or partly disrespectful nature is called an ‘enemy’ and ‘traitor’ or at least experienced that way and in their eyes the other person needs a corresponding change or view in order to -continue- to live harmoniously with them. Often they also turn away from the other in order not to approve of the other’s behavior or feedback and to prove their superiority, which people often experience as hurtful, intimidating as well as manipulative when dealing with them.

 

 

In a spiritual context, narcissism is related to water, which means the sphere of authority of a person assigned by God, which He has given to us by grace. According to the Word of God, water is also connected to the dimension of soul and spirit, in that water as an element can take different forms and act as a carrier.

 

In order not to fall into a narcissistic attitude of heart, which implies an unhealthy self-love (Note: not filled by God’s love), it is necessary that we have the throne of God at the centre of our focus as we encamp around Him with the throne, He has assigned to us (cf. Revelation 4:2-4.6a).

 

Revelation 4:2-4.6a:
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.
3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.
4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. …
6a Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. …

 

If we do not have the Lord in the centre of our focus and heart, we run the risk of developing a narcissistic attitude, which results in disproportions in the ecclesia – the church. Paul warns against this by speaking of not ‘biting’ or ‘eating’ one another, but James also warned against strife or disunity based on our own ideas and desires (cf. Galatians 5:15; James 4:1-6).

 

Galatians 5:15:
15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

 

James 4:1-6:
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?
2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.
3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble (cf. Proverbs 3:34).’

 

Since people with a narcissistic attitude prioritize themselves and their needs, this attitude goes contrary to the idea of the unity of the Body of Christ, which Jesus and Paul, among others, spoke of (cf. John 17:11b.20-23 i.c.w. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14.24b-27).

 

John 17:11b.20-23:
… 11b Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. …
20 ‘My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one –
23 I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

 

1 Corinthians 12:12-14.24b-27:
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
13 For we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14 And so the body is not made up of one part but of many. …
But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

 

 

It is necessary that in the presence of God we reflect ourselves correctly in the spirit and not to judge ourselves from an earthly point of view. Since water is reflective, it is an indication of self-reflection.

 

This self-reflection should be done in the presence of the crystal sea of the throne of God - the domain of the Heavenly Father and His standards in the sobriety of the spirit, and not in the level of ‘our own water’ - the domain of the heart, which includes weighing based on our own understanding of the Word of God combined with a false identity faculty. This false weighing is akin to a person looking into a mirror and forgetting how he looked (cf. Revelation 4:6a i.c.w. James 1:23-24).

 

Revelation 4:6a:
6a Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. …

 

James 1:23-24:
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

 

This forgetting of the appearance, as James said, refers to the spiritual quality of a believer in Christ Jesus. It means that we do not turn away from the dimension of God’s presence and faith and enter into a carnal self-reflection that leads to the fall (cf. Proverbs 16:18).

 

Proverbs 16:18:
18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

 

Therefore, it is essential for us as believers, who are active in Christ Jesus in the realm of the sons of God, to work closely with the presence of God as our King, that is, His throne room. The reason is because there is the crystal sea in which, through the Lamb of God reflected there, we reflect ourselves in His redemptive work, namely His grace (cf. Revelation 5:6).

 

Revelation 5:6:
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

 

The result is that we do not look to ourselves and our works (Note: crowns) but lay them down in the royal presence of the Heavenly Father (cf. Revelation 4:10).

 

Revelation 4:10:
… 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns (Note: crowns of victory) before the throne and say: …

 

 

=> Each time we come before the throne of God on the sea of glass in spirit as sons of God and lay down our lives or victories before our God and King, we are enacting holy worship that involves a holy ‘trade’ or a holy ‘barter’ with a sincere heart so that we increase in the victory of Christ and His reign as we leave our allotted throne of dominion for the glory of the Heavenly Father and the Lamb of God and then re-enter crowned in our time of dominion with Jesus Christ (cf. Revelation 4:10-11 i.c.w. Revelation 5:8-10).

 

Revelation 4:10-11:
… 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.’

 

Revelation 5:8-10:
8 And when he (Note.: the Lamb of God) had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
9 And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.’

Whatever we, as sons of God, give to the glory of the Lord and lay down before Him sets in motion the process of a heavenly righteous ‘trade’ so that we increase in blessing and power in Jesus Christ without putting ourselves in the centre.

It is important that in our spiritual ‘trade’ we never look to be seen by people, but that we come before Him sincerely and accept any kind of sincere honour we receive from people and then lay it down in our private chamber of prayer in reverence before our King on the crystal sea.

 

However, when we define ourselves by our field of authority assigned to us by God and our gifts as well as appearance, the result is that we reflect ourselves in our own ‘water’. Such behaviour is equal to a narcissistic attitude and results in the fall if we do not repent.

 

 

A narcissistic heart attitude causes one to enter a ‘downward spiral’ in the spirit realm as a result of it, because pride is present. This results in being removed from the heavenly ‘sphere of trade,’ as happened with Satan when he was banished from heaven as represented by the fall of King Tyre and Babylon and in the way that the traders were thrown out of the temple when Jesus Christ cleansed it while living on earth (cf. Ezekiel 28:13-19; Isaiah 14:11-15 i.c.w. Matthew 21:12-13).

 

Ezekiel 28:13-19 (Note: The fall of the king of Tyre):
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared.
14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.
15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.
16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones.
17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendour. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.
18 By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching.
19 All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.” ’

 

Isaiah 14:11-15 (Note: The fall oft he king of Babel):
11 All your pomp has been brought down to the grave, along with the noise of your harps; maggots are spread out beneath you and worms cover you.
12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!
13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens (Note: define over own deeds); I will raise my throne above the stars of God (Note: false zeal); I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon (Note: desire to be the centre of attention).
14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds (Note: spiritual independence through escape from circumstances); I will make myself like the Most High (Note: due to pride, the drive only to win).’
15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.

 

Matthew 21:12-13:
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves.
13 ‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘ “My house will be called a house of prayer,” but you are making it “a den of robbers (cf. Isaiah 56:7).” ’

When Jesus cleansed the temple in Jerusalem with the zeal of God from the insincere believers (Note: traders, sellers), he drew attention to the true heart attitude in the form of ‘the sincere trade or exchange’ in heaven, which can only take place with a sincere heart through the relationship with the Heavenly Father.

 

This is indicated by the tables overturned by Jesus Christ as a symbol of fellowship where the legs of the table pointed upward to heaven like index fingers, pointing to the true heavenly trade in relationship with the Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ.

 

 

Based on the Word of God, there exist some persons mentioned by name who lived in a so-called narcissistic attitude.

 

As an example, Cain was concerned with his prestige and sacrifice, which led him into rivalry with his own brother. He was bent on always wanting to be better than his brother Abel, not addressing the root that was revealed in his situation in his heart toward God.

 

In a spiritual context, Cain’s story reveals a demonic influence that produces murderous thoughts and jealousy in the heart, which is linked to a conscious decision not to love his neighbour, but to want to focus only on himself (cf. Genesis 4:3-5, 8).

 

Genesis 4:3-5.8:
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord (Note: a lifeless sacrifice, since there is no heartbeat in the fruit of the field => also represents own works).
4 But Abel also brought an offering – fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock (Note: a living sacrifice because blood was shed and in the blood is life). The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast….
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

 

What is distinctive about the offering of fruits of the field is the meaning that it is a lifeless offering, since there is no heartbeat in the fruits, which is precisely what own works represent.

 

Own works differ from works made of God in that they do not involve life and devotion from the one who offers them to God. Genuine works and sacrifices pleasing to God are our humble as well as loving expression of gratitude that it is God as Father from whom everything comes, which makes our own credit impossible due to sacrificial love.

 

Jesus Christ gave us clear instructions not only to love our neighbour, but also to love our enemies (cf. Matthew 22:37-40; Luke 6:27).

 

Matthew 22:37-40:
37 Jesus replied: ‘ “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (cf. Deuteronomy 6:5).”
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself (cf. Leviticus 19:18).”
40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’

 

Luke 6:27:
27 ‘But to you who are listening I say: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, …

 

The influence of the spirit of Cain is evident in the believers who want to remain in an old time of the movement of God and are not willing to leave their present spiritual place with the Lord, so that they become hard and embittered in heart and because of this cannot enjoy the new movement of the Lord with those who are moving in it.

 

An example of such behaviour should serve us the story from 1 Kings 13:1-32, where the old prophet, the man of God who worked in the power of signs and wonders, seduced him to deviate from the way of God, so that the man of God later found death.

It is the spirit of Cain that acts through destructive words, deeds, actions, heart attitudes and thoughts of people within the ecclesia – church towards their brothers and sisters to stop them in their love and devotion to the LORD. <= (Note: The section put in ‘=>’ is based on a revelation teaching from the book ‘Realms of the Kingdom Volume II’, ISBN: 978-1-911251-02-6 by Ian Clayton.)

 

 

=> Furthermore, Nimrod was also under the demonic influence of ‘narcissism’ and allowed himself to be driven by it. Narcissism has its root in the conflict in the form of rivalry and originally originated in heaven when ‘Lucifer’ decided to stand against God to become the first or to be number 1. This same combative spirit still exists in the world today, animating people or groups to compete with each other to try to be first.

 

Rivalry in the form of competition is an integral part of life in Western cultures. It has been accepted and valued as a necessary condition for a successful life. However, competition is ultimately selfish and involves desire, which leads to envy and all kinds of strife and war.

 

The first earthly competition was between Cain and Abel. Cain had his own ideas about how to make offerings. However, when Abel’s offering was considered by God to be more acceptable than Cain’s, Cain became very angry and murdered his brother. Cain’s competition with Abel was ultimately his competition with God, over who would be ‘number one’ (cf. Genesis 4:3-8).

 

Genesis 4:3-8:
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.
4 But Abel also brought an offering – fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?
7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

 

Similar behaviour is seen in King Nimrod, who built the original city and tower of Babylon. He was the great-grandson of Noah and rejected the faith of his fathers as well as made himself available to the occult. He was the first to organize a competition in his army to train and strengthen his troops. He lured and controlled men by using immorality, competition, and sorcery. <= (Note: The text set in ‘=>’ is taken from the message ‘The Clash of Kingdoms – The Kingdom of Self and the Kingdom of God’ by Jeff Beacham, ✝ 2013, published on 04’th of October 2019 at CRAZYCHRISTIANS.)

 

The demonic influence of narcissism could only gain a foothold in the life of Nimrod because of his insincere attitude of heart. Therefore, in this context, it is wise to illuminate the background of Nimrod and his life in the light of God’s Word.

 

›› The son of Kush and founder of the four oldest cities in the world. These were Babel (Babylonia), Erech (Uruk), Akkad and Kalne (Nippur). They are all described in the Bible in Genesis 10:10 as the land of Shinar, a coded name for ancient Babylonia. Nimrod was not only the grandson of Ham, but also the great-grandson of Noah. Nimrod’s domain extended into Assyria, another ancient city and civilization that influenced and troubled the people of God. His name identifies him as a tyrannical warrior who ruled his country with cruelty and rebellion against the Most High God. Evidently, he was anxious to establish himself as ruler and to introduce religious forms and worship that displaced the LORD in the hearts of the people.

It seems that Nimrod’s martial prowess was unprecedented for his time, and he used it to control and conquer everything around him.

His military might and prowess were complemented by his industrial strength, political skill, and architectural and ecclesiastical ability. He was truly a man prepared for the calling of his life, which was to give the children of Adam, of the lineage of Cain, a culture and religion different from that which they had inherited from their father and his father’s Father.

Nimrod and his descendants were brash, violent, and proud of their independence from their Creator. Much like his surrogate father, the devil, he used his abilities, gifts and talents to turn against the Most High and make himself a god.

The name Merodach (Marduk) is synonymous with Nimrod, thus designating the fierce, ruthless hunter himself as a deity. The words for his story, as simply as the Bible presents them, refer to one who used violence to desecrate, defile and defile that which was sacred and consecrated. Nimrod did this by introducing the worship of Marduk and Ishtar, among many other deities of the Babylonian pantheon. He introduced ritual sexuality and idolatry in full measure to feed and entertain the people in barren times. His provisions would undoubtedly have quickly elevated him in the eyes of his community, eventually serving as a seductive maneuverer to gain power over the land. His supplies must have been a powerful bargaining tool to raise an army and gain a following that grew with the gifts and favours he undoubtedly distributed diplomatically.

A major food supplier and undoubtedly brilliant entrepreneur, the man quickly became a voice in the country and an authority over the villages. Anyone who dared to oppose him was without the enormous political clout with which he conquered the territories he starved and destroyed. His tyrannical spirit ensured that those who wanted to succeed with him and his cunning submitted to him and went along with everything he wanted. Poor people, after giving away everything they owned for food, became slaves, and so the empire(s) grew. The Bible acknowledges that Nimrod’s abilities were not accidental and says that he was ordained and confirmed before the LORD in everything he did.

At that time, the LORD was still respected as the source of powerful and excellent things in the world, even though he was not worshipped for them. In this environment, it is very likely that Nimrod’s acumen also exploited this circumstance in his favour by declaring that he was in power because he was the chosen one. All of this contributes to his benefit in creating the impression of representing himself as God. ‹‹ (The in ‘››’ is based on an explanation of Nimrod from the ‘Prophet’s Dictionary’ by Paula A. Price, Ph. D.; pages 358-360.)

 

Amen and Amen.

 

In His Wisdom,

 

Daniel & Tina Glimm

 

For part II of the message please click here.