"The Narcissistic Believer"

SPEAKER_02 0:11

Hi, welcome to Fit101, Vocalizing Every Noted Topic with a Christian twist. I'm June Bryant, your host, and we welcome you to our podcast. Our vision is to win souls to Christ and to help those who know him by giving them a fresh new perspective on Christian living and reading God's Word. Our mission is to biblically educate people while growing in their Christian walk by answering questions that they are uncomfortable to ask in a church-like setting. You can find us wherever you get your podcast. Please like and subscribe. You can also visit us on YouTube, Instagram, or on our website vent-101.com, where you can leave any questions or comments that you may have. Thank you. Because we're gonna keep jaw jacking. It's June. No, you're fine. It's June in the room. Yeah, I'm gonna let it the co-hosts introduce themselves so we can go on ahead and get started.

SPEAKER_01 1:41

Good morning, everyone. I'm Pat. Hope you get something out of this session today. God bless you.

SPEAKER_07 1:49

And good morning. I'm Brother Shaw, as they call me over at West End. And I'm just happy to be here. It's been a long week. Want to send condolences to my cousin Missy on the passing of her daughter. To the Putnam family and Jackwee's family. We send our condolences.

SPEAKER_04 2:08

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 2:09

And good morning and good day to everybody out there on Facebook and in Podcast Land. Hope everybody's had a good day so far and that everybody's week has been productive and you've all had a blessed week so far. Amen.

SPEAKER_02 2:24

Oh, you already introduced yourself.

SPEAKER_01 2:30

I'll be real quick with you.

SPEAKER_02 2:32

Yeah, you real quick.

SPEAKER_07 2:34

Pew to be exact.

SPEAKER_02 2:37

Yeah, everybody, I first I want to just uh say uh Tuesday, I'm never gonna stop talking about my my brother Kenny. We miss him, but he is resting in the arms of Jesus. Yes. But I had the opportunity with uh close family members and friends to have dinner, celebrating Kenny's 60th birthday. Uh and we're going to continue to celebrate Kenny here in this studio. He's never going to be forgotten, you know. Uh and uh because there's nobody like you couldn't replace my brother. He had a way of explaining the word and his vulnerability and transparency in this studio was unlike others. Uh so I'm gonna say a prayer about this particular topic. Father God, I come to you. Uh we want to uh ask you, Father God, that you will open up the minds and the hearts and the spirits of everyone who listens to this particular podcast. Father God, it's not about uh pointing fingers, Father God. We're asking that uh in the name of Jesus that people will look at themselves uh more and more because what's happening with the world is not gonna get any better. And we it's essential that we continue to dissect our own spirits and to look to you, Father, for help and strength to clear us out. Uh all this I ask in your son Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you, Jesus. He's worthy. Yes, he is. Um, but today's topic is um the Christian or the believer who deals with narcissism. Uh when studying narcissism, I found that in just about every article that narcissism is known as having a mental health issue. The American Psychiatric Association says that narcissism is a mental health disease, also known as NPD, which stands for, excuse me, narcissistic personality disorder. Now, the Bible, on the other hand, doesn't deal with diagnosis and uh disorders, but the heart. Biblically, narcissism is best understood as entrenched pride expressed relationally. Otherwise, in simpler terms, stubbornness of the heart or stiff-necked arrogance. Now, when you look and think about it this way, it's easy to see that Satan is the original dirty, low-down narcissist. Instead of bonding hearts with truth, narcissistic pride divides and destroys. Anytime we hear disorder, it should be immediately cause us to move with caution and not excuse the sin. Now, say for instance you have a bladder or a kidney disorder, this is understandable. It's not sinful. But if a person has is prideful, unforgiving, manipulative, toxic, or vindictive in how they move in their relationships, we have to be cautious in excusing this with a disordered family. Those type of actions are clearly called sin in the Bible. Proverbs 16, 18 tells us that pride comes before the fall. And Romans 16, 17 through 19 says, I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to doctrine that we have been taught. The Bible says you have been taught. Avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. And by smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise as to what God, what is good, and innocent as to what is evil. Now, I before I release it to the panel or the co-host, I found it's very interesting on where the word narcissist came from. So stick with me, family. The narcissist term, the term narcissist comes from a man named Narcissus. There are two versions of the myth of narcissist. Now, the first is the Greek version, which was written by the mythographer, which is uh Conan, which collects the uh mythographer collects records and analyzes myths or legends. Now, the first version is narcissus was a celebrated and extremely handsome hunter who was known for rejecting people, all people, men and women, who tried to holler at him and was considered impossible to love anybody. Anyway, Aminus was this young man who fell, oh yeah, I'm talking about somebody. Uh Aminus was this young man who fell in love with narcissists. Narcissists rejected and snubbed Aminus multiple times. And out of spite, narcissists cruelly handed Aminus a sword to reject his advances and dared him prove your love to me by taking this sword. Now, in return, Amenus killed himself at Narcissus' doorstep, praying to the gods that narcissists would someday experience the pain of loving someone and not getting it in return. Fast forward, narcissist was walking by a pool of water and saw his reflection in the water and was surprised by what he saw. He became meserized by the reflection of himself. Unable to win the love of the image he saw, he suffered the same heartache and misery that he had brought on others. Consumed by longing for himself, this dude was in love with himself. That's right. He eventually died beside the pool. He couldn't receive the object of his desire because he wanted himself. And he died besides the pool of water or lake in his sorrow. Now, the second version, I want to stick with me. The second version was the Roman version of the myth, which was called uh his name was Ovid or Ovid. Narcissus was a remarkably handsome young man. This is his version. Many people fell in love with him, but he rejected all their advances because he was proud and cold. Now, one of those who loved him was Echo, a mountain nymph, which is a demon. Echo had been cursed so that she could only repeat the last words spoken by others. Can you imagine her? I love you and you love me. I love you and you love me. She kept, that's that was her curse. When she tried to express her love for narcissist, he rejected her. Heartbroken, she wasted away until only her voice remained. The gods decided to punish narcissists for his cruelty. One day, while drinking from a clear pool, he saw his own reflection. Not realizing it was just his image, he fell deeply in love with it. He became so captivated by his own reflection that he couldn't lead a pool. Unable to possess, to the have the possession of the beautiful figure he saw, which was himself, a narcissist eventually withered away in the place where he died, a flower groove, which became known as the narcissist, commonly associated with the daffodil. The key to this is don't be in love with yourself. So I got a lot more material, but I'm gonna leave you all looking while you look at this.

SPEAKER_00 11:20

Well, you started off just in me. That's the history of it.

SPEAKER_02 11:22

That's the history of it.

SPEAKER_00 11:24

That is.

SPEAKER_02 11:25

So think about the word narcissist. That's why I had I the Holy Spirit told me to give the history behind this word because it's very important that we look at ourselves. And when we get through here, you're gonna see a lot of yourself. You might not be have narcissist, you might not be uh narcissistic or narcissistic, but you can have narcissistic ways.

SPEAKER_00 11:55

That's the thing, though. But it's actually good that you brung this word, that word specifically, because I've heard that word thrown out there and so many times, but but it's misused. A lot of times people don't truly know what the definition or what a narcissist is. And man, you were just talking about this like a few days ago. Uh-huh. Because a lot of times uh the thing that I learned and noticed that a lot of times people use it as a weapon to try, oh, you're a narcissist and you're a narcissist. But the thing about it is most of those people that do that are the narcissists.

SPEAKER_05 12:29

They're the ones.

SPEAKER_00 12:30

Because they don't, they lack accountability.

SPEAKER_05 12:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:33

They don't, they want to uh belittle you to make themselves feel higher. Those are a key traits to being a narcissist.

SPEAKER_04 12:40

That's right.

SPEAKER_00 12:40

And um, I learned about that word a long time ago. That's what, like, you know, trending words like gaslighting and all these things that got thrown in the atmosphere. But on this one is very deep. I didn't, I honestly didn't expect it to be as deep as it was when it comes to the Christian aspect of it. Yes. And I got a lot of literature on, I guess I'm uh start with the definition that I came across. Um, someone whose posture is rooted in deeply entrenched pride, self-exaltation, spiritual manipulation rather than true repentance and surrender to God. Now that alone, think about that. Somebody that even would think that way. And it's a lot of different um, there's a lot of examples and core things. I'm not gonna go into all the core parts of it that I have, because I have a lot of them, but I'm gonna start with one of them. Um, the first one I have is entrenched pride and self-worship. And uh um a key Bible verse to go to for that would be 2 Timothy chapter 3, 1 through 2. And it states, this know also that in the last days perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boosters, not boasters, proud. Boost is must do boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful and unholy.

SPEAKER_05 14:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:15

Another um verse will be in 1 John 2, verse 16. For all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes and pride of life is not from the Father, but is from the world. So instead of dying to self, they treat themselves as the final authority and moral center. Now, the thing about that is how could you do that? It's like you're placing yourself before God. Or like you may see yourself as a God. Like such as that's why I said that because it goes along with what you were referring to. When he looked at himself, it was like, oh, it's like the chest pumped up a little bit. Hold on. I look good. But I ain't like the the double gender part you said. Yeah, but it is. But that's that's the way of the world. But when it boils down, the key factor is and a key part of humility, humility is a key part to how you get rid of that. You have to look at yourself, not in from uh that nature, but look at yourself for correction. Instead of looking at the perfections God has put upon you, look at the different things within you, not the outer, the inside of you, so that you can look better in God's eyes. People's eyes don't matter. You could be the finest thing, but be so ugly in the inside, and heart is just none but black. So don't uh a key factor is a lot of people like in higher, I guess, positions within Christianity, this is a very bad thing. A very big thing, too. But I'm gonna leave about that so y'all can chime in too.

SPEAKER_01 15:52

And on top of that, too, uh, Christians don't want to hear. No. Because, first of all, it's truth. And you have to understand, I love how you brought that out. Uh, Isaiah, I was gonna read it. Isaiah in the 14th chapter. It tells us how it started. Satan began to do that, puffed himself up. And what he said is, I'm gonna set my throne above God. And so y'all remember when Lucifer was the most beautiful creature that God created, but he reflected, looked at himself and said, Hey, not just good looking, I'm beautiful. Yeah, I'm so he puffed up in pride, and so that's where their spirit came from. I love how you brought that history out, that narcissism, the two narcissists, because that spirit ain't dead, y'all. So I just want to let everybody know. Just like June said, you know, we can have some traits of that. Or you know what I'm saying? And sometimes uh uh, you know, situations cause us to feel like, you know, we puffy. You know, I'm I'm superior over you. I'm a leader. I can, you know what I'm saying? And you don't even have to look like nothing. I mean, because it ain't had nothing to do with the looks. It has something to do with the heart, right? She said, like Antoine said. So we we have to know that we're living in a spiritual world. We can't see what's going on. But that spirit haven't haven't died. Haven't died. Even though those two narcissists that she talked about, they were in human form. But they took on that spirit. Amen. Yeah, self-adultery. I love myself. You know, heartless people. And you know, you find that in the church, it's it's you know, just thinking about this, this is so real right here. And in our in the Christian real believers, like you were saying, we don't want to speak truth. But we need to re look in the mirror. Remember you talking about look in that mirror and reflect on who we are for real. You know, because we treat people so cold. I had somebody shut the door on me before. Uh I'm talking about church folk. Pastor, and then whoever they was and said, no, you know, shut the door on me. You know, no, you go down the street and worship. Oh, wow.

SPEAKER_07 18:11

Wow. Like this house belonged to you. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:15

You know what I'm saying? A lot of beliefs. Because I'm here, you know what I mean? Like a lot of people in the church. That to me is heartless. Very heartless. And so that's part of those traits of a narcissist. But you believe, y'all, I'm hearing y'all amazing grace singing in there and all this stuff. You shut the door on this.

SPEAKER_00 18:40

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 18:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:41

I wish people learned from that perspective that just because someone has a calling, it doesn't mean they're better or greater above you.

SPEAKER_01 18:48

No.

SPEAKER_00 18:49

Because they still, they sweat like you sweat, they bleed like you bleed. And that perception has been like thrown out. Because even I thought that at one point, I'm not gonna lie, until I learned and knew better. That um we all have everybody actually has something they're supposed to do, because we're all supposed to be a key part of the body of Christ. That's right. So to uh try to detour or put someone away, like smug somebody, is like blasphemous, especially from uh that position. Hypocritical, too. Very hypocritical, very hypocritical.

SPEAKER_01 19:20

And I love that scripture you brought out too, um, Antoine, and I'm gonna be quiet. That uh 2 Timothy 3, I focus on that fifth verse where it says you have a form of godliness.

SPEAKER_07 19:30

Right.

SPEAKER_01 19:31

Form of godliness with a small G, yeah?

SPEAKER_07 19:34

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 19:35

You see what I'm saying? Not the big God that created everything, but you have a form of godliness.

SPEAKER_00 19:41

But specifically written that way, too.

SPEAKER_01 19:45

Yes, that's right. I love that.

SPEAKER_02 19:47

I I say, well, see, and people really think that this is not gonna, you know, like it was done away with when June was reading about the history, like, oh, this period of you know, there's some people that that to this day I can think of that are dealing with that the man, the the person narcissist. Wow, they really think they boo-boo don't stay.

SPEAKER_07 20:17

That's that's crazy because of uh you giving the history. I was sitting here and I was tying it together, but Miss Pat said at first, like it's really a spirit thing. Yes, you know, uh to even take on those characteristics. But the world is calling it characteristics, but in the body of Christ, it should be identified as that spirit. That's real, you know. Um so when I was researching, and I'm I'm like, man, these topics be so on point. Like the narcissistic believer, I'm like, it's a such thing as that. And then as you go and you like, oh, so my definition I seen was uh a narcissistic believer or spiritual narcissist is an individual who exhibits traits of, as you describe, NPD, which is the narcissistic personality disorder, while integrating religious or spiritual language, identity, and practice into their life. And and it don't say they actually believe the spiritual language and the identity and the integration of the religion. It just said they practice it in their life. You know, and uh me and my wife had a conversation where we talk about I I was telling her her lately, wife, you gotta have boundaries. You gotta set them clear. You gotta set them at work, you gotta set them at church, you gotta set them in your family, you gotta set them in your house. That's right. If you do not And people who are, as they call habitual line steppers, they're gonna keep on crossing in your boundaries and maybe slightly offending you. But it says key characteristics of this narcissist believer. And the one that stuck out to me is weaponized scripture. Yeah. And I talk about that all the time, how people will wrap their agenda in the word. You know, and it's a lot of churches that are doing that, you know, wrapping their agenda in the word. I don't know if it's for the sake of the offering plate. That's all I could think of. And then that speaks to a whole nother heart posture. You know, but weaponizing scripture, they frequently twist or cherry pick biblical passages or spiritual rules to demand submission, deflect criticism, or gaslight people who set boundaries. There's that word again, boundaries. You know, so um, yeah, that's man. I didn't when you were saying that, you know, just the the history was kind of making my stomach turn a little bit because you, you know, uh you spoke of uh uh um men and women who liked him, and because he didn't have boundaries.

SPEAKER_02 23:24

Well, in his case, he didn't care if it was a baby. He was so in love with himself. That's right.

SPEAKER_07 23:31

Right.

SPEAKER_02 23:31

The love of self, which kept him even loving. He ended up dying by a pond because he was so busy trying to see that reflection. You see what I'm saying? And that's the saddest part about dealing with uh a person that is a complete narcissist, or even those of us who have some of those traits. So, what I want to talk about, there are two different types of Christian narcissists, family. Uh, one is the uh among Christians, narcissism hides itself as a wolf in sheep's clothing. The two main narcissistic patterns are called overt, which is grandiose or classic narcissist, and covert, known as vulnerable narcissists, that can appear in religious communities. Now, the uh grandiose or overt, open or undisguised. This is the bold Christian narcissist, yeah, is outwardly arrogant and self-promoting, uh, often presenting themselves as spiritually superior. They may claim to have uh unique spiritual insights. I I am anointed, or I'm the chosen one. They use religious and uh religious knowledge and terminology to claim authority while sometimes praising or idolizing themselves as equal to God, just like Satan did. The level of arrogance within this person is off the charts, family. They seek a constant admiration and recognition in church or uh community settings or in your ministry, your sideboard ministry. Because we've had a couple of narcissists in here, I'ma admit it, you know, and God bless them. Uh, and like Rich said, they cherry-pick the scriptures. Um, their behavior is often loud, confrontational, and dismissive of others' opinions, making it easier to spot, but also more damaging in its public influence. So we're talking about this especially because our goal at Vent 101 is mainly to reach the new believers so you know what to look for or see in yourself. And the second one, like I said, the vulnerable, covert, or hidden or kept secret Christian narcissist, the one that undercover narcissist, uh, this type is quieter and more subtle and harder to detect, family. They may come across as sweet, caring, and easygoing, but have a shallow emotional core. Their emotional capabilities are stunted, self-centered, which can be detrimental to the new believers' growth. They use vulnerability to manipulate by playing the victim or needing to help to gain favor. They're overly sensitive, got the audacity to be overly sensitive to criticism, prone to withdrawing or reacting as if they don't care when they're slighted or ignored or overlooked. How dare you? They use scriptures and terms without being grounded in their faith. This is vital because if they're not grounded in their faith, how can you learn from them? Make others feel less than by comparing in private settings. They ain't gonna say nothing to you outside in the church. Oh, but you know, so-and-so, she she this, that, and the other. He, he, he listened, he read the word, but he don't know that much, and so-and-so, so-and-so, all that gossiping.

SPEAKER_01 27:48

Whispering and gossiping.

SPEAKER_02 27:50

Watch out for this. They often blend in well, which makes them dangerous because they can exploit, twist, or weaponize true Christian values such as forgiveness, humility, and love. They can infiltrate in relations, infiltrate relationships and churches or religious organizations without being suspected until it sometimes is too late. Both types of these narcissistic people use Christianity as a facade to mask their narcissistic ways and needs. Grandiose types project superiority and control, while covert types hide behind empathy and humility. Recognizing these patterns is so humbling to me. And like Proverbs 20, Proverbs 423 says, above all else, guard your heart. Guard your heart for everything you do flows from it. It's essential for us to protect our spiritual health as well as our relationships, family. Amen. You waiting on y'all.

SPEAKER_00 29:13

Okay. Well, I wanted to add one thing that I learned like a long a while ago when study with uh with uh my uh brother's bishop, but he taught me this word isogiesis, as which the technical form of like using the words and using your opinion based instead of what's actually in the word. So a lot of times that's how a lot of these, well, people in general just have to be a spiritual leader, use the word as a way to manipulate. Because they'll say the things that sound good, but at the same time, they'll be, and at the same time, they're pretty much violating what God is pretty much saying. For their own perspective, their own feelings, or whatever it may be that they added to it to try to sway or coerce people into believing or going by whatever they say, believe, or whatever their ways is. It's always some type of thing behind it. But something that hit me when we was here just a second ago, because have you, I something just I just noticed when it comes to like mental health kind of things, in the in the fleshly way or the worldly way, they call it mental health.

SPEAKER_04 30:21

Right.

SPEAKER_00 30:21

But us as Christians, we call them spiritual demons. Because what you just said, it coincides with that. To be a narcissistic person or minded is a borderline mental health issue. At the same time, you just read it, which is interpreted as a spiritual demonic way or demonic spirit, which comes with a lot of these different uh mental health things, they say like bipolarism and schizophrenia, those are people that have a multitude of demons in them. Because you gotta think, if you have a one minute, you this way, then that way, then that way, then that way, but you all different people, who can how is that possible? God only gave us one brain, one person, one person, one Holy Spirit in here. How can you be a multitude? Unless it is demonic.

SPEAKER_01 31:13

It's demonic.

SPEAKER_00 31:14

It just hit me when we were sitting here about because I've heard like every time I hear about different mental health issues, like jealousy, jealous spirit. It all be based around like different kind of spirits. So that's just it just hit me when we were sitting here. But just to give another um aspect on that, um, another form of is transaction. They have transactional relationships and lack of repentance is another key trait. Oh, yeah. The um the refusal of accountability. Um, biblically, faith requires humility, confession, and repentance. They resist true repair, demanding forgiveness from others while evading personal responsibility.

SPEAKER_01 31:57

Amen. Yep.

SPEAKER_00 31:58

That's just to me, that's crazy. That's just how could you live like that?

SPEAKER_02 32:03

Always making up an excuse for what they did.

SPEAKER_00 32:06

And they're never wrong. They're never wrong no matter what. They could be dead wrong, but would find the way you was wrong or found a way to flip it on you every time. Twist. Yeah. That's crazy. But to give a verse behind it would be James 3, 14 through 16, and it states, but if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not and and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. So the thing about it is they treat relationships, even with God, it's not just people, as transactional, as transactional, leveraging love, status, or scripture to gain admiration and compliance rather than true fellowship.

SPEAKER_02 33:03

They basically taking advantage of God for real.

SPEAKER_00 33:07

Yeah, they are. We're taking advantage and trying to use them too.

unknown 33:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:11

Because in certain instances, they use scripture but change the context to go along with what they're saying or doing. What I said before, I should Jesus. They be dead wrong, but like, yeah, but the word says this, hold on. That was nothing to do with the same context of what we're discussing now. Right. So that's why, like, especially on here, what we tell you all, we say this all the time. If people give you scripture and try to in any kind of way, or if they give you a sermon, or if they try to go to the word, go behind them and check for yourself and make sure it's in alignment with what they're saying. Because you can be fooled easily. I've been fooled before with people that's saying the sound good things. Holiness is godliness, and cleanliness is godliness and all these different key traits things that sound cute and audit, but if it's not in the word and the context does not line up, they are definitely not aligned with Christ. They're definitely not aligned with what God is truly saying at that time moment, and a lot of times it's used to manipulate you or sway you in some type of way.

SPEAKER_01 34:10

Yeah, absolutely. You was gonna read that. Yeah, I I like that too, uh, because that's what we want to do. In the world, you know, uh, we put everything on mental illnesses and you know, different things like that. Uh, I think it's just the system where we keep the insurance going, you know what I'm saying, send the people to psychiatrists and stuff like that. You know, that costs money. But I want to read something. Um read it from the NIV. And this is the way of the world. Um Matthew 4, 8 through 11. I'm gonna read it as quickly as possible. It says, uh again, the devil took him to a very high place in the mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world. The world, what we're living in, right? All this I will give you, he said. This is Satan speaking. If you will bow down and worship me, and Jesus said to him, Away from me, Satan, for it is written, Worship the Lord your God and serve him only. Then the devil left him for a while. And the angels came to attend to Jesus. So if the devil that's he knew who Jesus was. So that means, you know, he he he used the emotion part because Jesus knew that when when God kicked Satan out of out of heaven, he said, you know, this is your your realm right here. So he knew that he can control the world. So you got a problem in your head if you think that you're gonna just tell Jesus to bow down and worship you. You got a problem. So, like I said, once again, that spirit is still lingering. Oh, yeah. Satan is speaking to us. Yeah, if you do that, gonna rob that bank. You're gonna be rich. You know, I'll make you rich. You know, the the whole world, the industry of music and stuff now is controlled. Because who controlled it in heaven?

SPEAKER_04 36:09

Right.

SPEAKER_01 36:10

That's right. That's that that spirit, like I said before, have not died. It's a spirit of manipulation, lies. And people are bound down to it. I'm talking about churches. We're talking about Christian narcissists, right? Right? That spirit is on those people. It's on us. I'm gonna say us, you know, these days because they haven't died.

SPEAKER_04 36:33

Right.

SPEAKER_01 36:34

You know, they and they want that fame. So showing you all the lights for the last time.

SPEAKER_02 36:41

They sacrificing Jesus.

SPEAKER_00 36:43

That music thing hit different. Yeah. No, when you just said it, it just hit me from a different perspective when you said that.

SPEAKER_01 36:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 36:51

Because when I did a when I did a fast last year, I the I it just hit my spirit to take away circular music, and that's when I started engulfing more to like, if I'm gonna listen to hip-hop, I be Christian hip-hop. And I realized the difference, like, because I was I'm a word big on word person. So when it came to music, I just saw it literally as entertainment. I didn't think, I didn't think that listening to these music, I'm listening to beats, because I'll be bobbing to beats. But then if you listen to it, what ended up happening? You end up memorizing them words in the process. And like, I wouldn't be rapping the words. I'd be sitting there bobbing her to the beat, and that's you know, I'm rapping the words. But then what you just said about the enemy being who he was when he was in heaven. I've never, it didn't hit me that way.

SPEAKER_02 37:35

No. But he was over the music. So beautiful.

SPEAKER_00 37:38

That's an easy way for the enemy to creep in because I I started noticing as I engulfed in that, and like I changed the whole algorithm and my music and everything. He'll slide in a little bit of that old hip-hop I was listening to that's talking about women and shooting, a drug dealer, something like that. He'll try to slide in. I'm like, uh-uh, Skip. And I, but the thing is, I realized how how my mindset, like when it comes to growing in Christ, it actually went moved forth. I didn't see that as like a stronghold or a blockade from my growth. Because again, I I wasn't viewing it like uh this just, I'm this just hip-hop. I love the beats, I love this and that. But then once I started hearing nothing but the Lord's word being spoken and winning souls and all the music, it changed the whole, it like it leveled up a different, uh, opened up a different chamber in my mind to see things differently, especially from a music aspect. I didn't view it that way before. Because I said it in here before. I can listen to music, like it don't hit me like that. But then at the time, that's why it hit me at that time to re-rearrange my mind to see it from a different perspective. And ever since then, that's all I listened to. That in gospel. I thought Liz Jazz in that too.

SPEAKER_01 38:51

We feel like it's it's it's all innocent. Ain't nothing wrong with it, whatever. And I just want to share one more scripture in Daniel 4. Uh, this was a king, Nazareth Senazar. I hope I'm saying his name right. I'm gonna call him King Naz. But anyway, he he took on that whole spirit. And it says, and he, which is King Nab, uh, he said, Is not this the great Babylon I have built? Who that sounds like? As the royal residence by my mighty power, he said, and for the glory of my majesty. This is what he said. So uh I encourage y'all to read the rest of them scriptures and see what happened. June said it in the beginning pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit for a fall. Two things pride and haughtiness. That's a narcissist trait. You can't win with it. You can't. That's all I gotta say.

SPEAKER_07 39:51

Uh that y'all brought up the music. That's why I don't, I no longer write the music because I started to see, wait a minute, it's it's a change here. You know, uh so if if you are involved in things such as like the music, and and even when I think about it, it I can even throw the marijuana in there too. Something ain't the same. No, you know, and I noticed it with the music, and I'm like, man, all this self-exaltation, you know, it just it just wasn't my appetite no more. You know, my appetite started to change, my desires started to change because they were being more aligned with what the Lord's will was. So that's why I don't I don't mess with the music anymore. You know, I know what was. I'm trying to get to what is, you know, and what will be, you know. So uh it's like you said, it's a different mindset. Yes, I'm not sure. You know, when I started to go back and look over what I wrote or listening to the finished product and seeing where the music was going, you know, uh another characteristic of narcissism is intolerance of challenge. While they love being viewed as a mentor, leader, or spiritual authority, yeah, they react with severe defensiveness, rage, or playing the victim when questioned or held accountable. Like, you know, and then this this just this whole narcissistic spirit from a person has a different effect on somebody else. You know, and the word tells us about being a stumbling block. Yes, I'm not sure. So that's not what we want to be. Like one of those effects could be the erosion of self-trust. Partners, family members, or congregational members are often made to feel like they are the unspiritual, unloving, or rebellious ones for questioning the behavior of leadership, you know, and that's crazy because in Titus 1 and 16 it says they profess to know God. Yes, but they deny them by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work. You know, so that's what the words say about it, you know, not what Brother Shaw says about it, not necessarily what Vent 101 say about it. That's what the word says about it, and that's the only thing that's concrete.

SPEAKER_02 42:27

Amen. We have to be careful of how we represent ourselves because what you you what you said hit me today, son, because I was one of the people that kept telling you you should do Christian rap. As good of a rapper as you are as you are, but I understand that today I get it because you are have transitioned transitioned into the likeness of Christ, and that ain't where your call is, and that's I appreciate you saying that because there are so many out here that don't want to give up the normalcy. It took a lot for you to give that up, but but when God uh pricked your heart to give up that along with the weed and stuff, that's a blessing in itself because you can think with a sober mind. And that's the key. You know, we have to think Christ-like. What would Christ do? How would Christ react if he was sitting next to me? You know, and that's that's a lot that narcissists, narcissists don't see that. They don't see themselves the way that others do. You see what I'm saying? We can see a narcissistic uh person from across the room or right here. But they are so caught up in self to where they justify their actions. You see what I'm saying? And you touch base on leadership. Now, I want to talk a little bit, like especially to the new believers, about uh knowing the leadership to sit under. And it's not a bashing of pastors or apostles or bishops, but it's the truth of what you have to look out for. Of course, anyone can have bad days or moments where they fall short. But if these negative traits are persistent and detrimental to the spiritual growth for you and the congregation, you might be just dealing with a covert religious narcissist. Godly leadership isn't about power, it's about selfless, selfless service, humble, echoing the heart of the ultimate motto, who is Jesus. You'll notice that a genuine Christian leader, I'm gonna say Christian leader, because I can say pastor, but whoever you're sitting under, uh leader's character remains consistent in public as well in private. You probably know uh uh pastor, I'ma say pastor because that's the common, or bishop, or you probably know some that be talking stuff behind people's backs too. In other words, gossiping. Yeah, I like sister, sister so-and-so, she's a good giver, but keep that. If you are around a leader that is like that, just pray for him.

SPEAKER_04 46:01

Right.

SPEAKER_02 46:02

You have to somebody said something about having healthy boundaries. Uh uh Christ-centered leaders respect and establish healthy boundaries, recognizing that each person is responsible for their own spiritual growth. Now the narcissists blur and teaching their sheep to believe that they can't grow without them. Yep. If he, if your leader is not encouraging you like Vim 101, we do, we encourage you to read the word for yourself. If your pastor or your leader tells you, well, you need to talk to me about that because I can explain it to you better, or however you use it, watch out.

SPEAKER_01 46:49

Watch out.

SPEAKER_02 46:50

The fruit of the spirit. Galatians 5, 22, 23, list the fruit uh of the spirit. Uh, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. While anyone can display these qualities occasionally, a Christ-centered leader will exhibit them consistently, even in challenging situations. That's the key. How does your leader act when something's going wrong? Is he throwing a temper tantrum? I've been around some. They can have uh, they can look faithful, loving, and good in public, but these are not enduring traits. They lose their temper easily, they are easily angered, frustrated, and impatient. And you talked about accountability. If you under, if you don't, if your leader don't hold themselves accountable.

SPEAKER_07 48:00

The healthy boundaries, uh I I just view that as a way to not make you church hop and pew hot. You know, um, if you set healthy boundaries in in your church home, you won't have to keep changing churches. I agree. It's the people who don't set those boundaries who uh uh uh you know who can't uh uh how well you um handle conflict. You know, you should be able to, hey, my brother, you know, as you said, and and and it's ways, it it states in the Bible how to go about it. Handle it. That's right. You know, so if you if you set those, I believe, and this just me personally, I believe if you set those healthy boundaries, it'll make it easier for you to stay in that congregation. It's when you don't, is when you like, okay, now I'm gonna have to leave. Uh, you know, because that other spirit kick in, I'm gonna have to say something. Right. Or address you. Look, and then people get to you, you you see, you heard people before, oh, I don't care about your title. I'm gonna, you know, I'll turn this mother out. You know, and stuff like that. You know, so, but that's because you you haven't set healthy boundaries, you know, and I I always I will go down saying boundaries are needed. You know, I stress it with my wife all the time, like, hey, you at work, set them boundaries. You know, because that's good. People will push those buttons if one exists, you know. But with those boundaries, ain't no buttons to push. You know, uh, but yeah, them healthy boundaries will help a lot of people, uh, not puel hop and church hop and all that type of things and and continuous church hurt, you know, and those type of things, man. But yeah, them boundaries are needed.

SPEAKER_00 50:05

But if they let allow the Holy Spirit to guide them in the right spot and let the Holy Spirit tell them that's their home church, they wouldn't have to church hop anywhere. That's the key part on when it comes to find church, because that's what I've been in the process of doing is trying to just waiting and being patient. Because I do attend the church. But the key thing is if you're jumping around church to church to church, joining church, church to church, are you allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you in that? Right. Because the whole thing about it is you're supposed to find the church home that's that's that's best for you. And if you have a family or whatever the things that God has given you that's gonna help you edify him more and grow in him more, those are the key factors you should be looking for. So if you jump in church to church, that's a more of a sound like a self-dame. And you're not allowing God to guide you in that way. I want to add one other thing onto that. Um, how um from the narcissist aspect, and this is even what some church leaders just, but it's kind of general too. Using God's language while violating his character. Um, like a religious facade of facade, as some people enunciate it, or pronounce it, often performs acts of external piety using the vocabulary of grace, love, and scripture to manage their image rather than transform their heart. In um 2 Timothy 3 and 5, it says, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof from such turn away. They speak like spiritual authority, but operate with a spirit with a spirit of control, prioritizing being seen as right over actually doing what's right. And it's that's one thing that a lot of people can carry that. And it's easy to kind of do that from a certain perspective, because some people have this issue with the um attention, like attention seekers. A lot of them either they dress a certain way or they speak a certain way to draw attention towards self. And at the same time, that means you're valuing self over God. If you need to be seen that much where you want to, uh where you have to go out here and say key words from the Bible to try to edify self before Christ, then you definitely got a big narcissistic problem. Because a lot of times people will do that. Um, I've dated women that'll sit up here and belittle me to other people to make themselves look right. Even though they can be the have the worst heart, the worst image and everything above in the inside, but to others, they look so pretty and nice and all that stuff. But the inside is the most important part. You can look all good on the outside, but if your heart ain't aligned right and God ain't the whole part of this, all that beauty on the outside is a waste. And the key thing is people feel to realize, uh, you do get older, that stuff starts changing. So that's a tip of River Fit. If you look good today, let's see about 20, 30 years from now. Especially if you're not aligned with God to lead your life and stay in alignment. Because that's a key part to looking better and that light shiner too. That light shiner looks way better than a dim, a pretty dim looking person.

SPEAKER_01 53:14

That's right. You're absolutely right. God looks on the heart, He don't look on the outer appearance anyway.

SPEAKER_00 53:19

You can say, oh, you beautiful. Come on up here in heaven. Nah, like your heart. Like your heart, uh-uh. I don't you look good. Your heart. Nah, you might nah. I don't who are you? Matter of fact, I don't know you. Who are you?

SPEAKER_02 53:30

Yeah. Looks don't go far with God. No, he he God don't like ugly up pretty. Sure, ain't it fun and cute? I want to talk about before we st we uh stop talking about this because I got so much literature on this. Uh, but uh I want I have to say how believers in Christ can avoid becoming narcissistic before we leave. We have to give you a positive uh view. Um cultivate humility and service. Biblically, narcissism is rooted in. We've talked about it in pride and glorifying self, Jesus modeled humility by laying down his life for us. Ask yourself regularly, family. Ask yourself, am I seeking recognition for my achievements or am I serving others? Prioritize others' needs uh over your own to counter self-centeredness and other uh practice self-awareness. Look at yourself, recognize your own tendencies towards self-import uh importance and entitlement or lack of empathy. Matthew 7, 3 through 5 says, And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! Hypocrite. First get rid of the log in your own eye, then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye. And you can keep a journal of your thoughts and actions. I need to do better with that journaling. Uh, and seek honest feedback from friends you trust or your get godly advice. Don't go to nobody that you know is turning corners in the streets. They might be saved. You know, I'm not saying they're not going to heaven, but if they're not striving to get to know Jesus more, don't ask them because they ain't gonna give you sound advice.

SPEAKER_01 55:50

Right.

SPEAKER_02 55:51

Yeah, and set healthy boundaries. That was one of the key things. You have to set boundaries, they protect your emotional and spiritual health and prevent you from being drawn into a manipulative or self-exaggerated pattern.

SPEAKER_07 56:11

Or an explosive ending.

SPEAKER_02 56:13

Yes.

SPEAKER_07 56:24

So Christ wasn't in the temple and then what? You flip them titles. No, that's explosive. Yeah, yeah. Cause now you need to put me in one of those. I gotta protect my wife modes.

SPEAKER_02 56:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 56:43

That's a tricky situation. Yeah, because she's a sweetheart, too. Man, and I'm a clown.

SPEAKER_02 56:48

She deserves that. She deserves that.

SPEAKER_07 56:49

Sweetheart got a clown.

SPEAKER_00 56:51

Sounds like you've said that before a few times. Man, man, man. I'm a clown.

SPEAKER_02 56:56

Don't play with Richard School's wife.

SPEAKER_00 56:59

Not my wife now. Don't let them call a little broke. We're gonna get that. We're gonna pray for the real heart.

SPEAKER_02 57:04

Yeah. Uh speak the truth in love. There we go. Speak the truth in love. Avoid using self-promotion as a way uh to control or impress others. Uh instead, share your thoughts and experiences with honesty and compassion. Be loving. Ain't nothing wrong with being loving. Check yourself before you wreck yourself. That's right.

SPEAKER_07 57:33

All right. Oh, what? Step into the turtles.

SPEAKER_02 57:39

Live and practice compassion and forgiveness. Narcissism uh often lacks empathy. Deliberately train your heart. I had to do this. Deliberately train your heart to care for others' well-being because I didn't care about nothing. I really didn't.

SPEAKER_00 57:59

So then.

SPEAKER_02 58:01

Hey, he'll tell you. I did not care.

SPEAKER_00 58:05

I've been that way before, too, so I can understand that.

SPEAKER_02 58:07

But you know, but but her Lord can deliver you. And life's experiences will cause you to put up that defense mechanism, and that's all it is. Uh when you don't care like that, that's a defense mechanism because I would I didn't want nobody. I was always had my guard up. I was sharing this with one of my baby girls just yesterday. I started, I always started with my guards up, but you won't let anybody in. So I now, since I've grown in Christ, I've learned to just start with my guard down, all the way down. And if you cause me to go up, up, and when I get to the upright position, I hey, I can let you from a distance. You see what I'm saying? That's just how it goes. Yeah, yeah. But uh uh Colossians 3:13 says, make allowances for each other's faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Forgiveness breaks the cycle of self-centered bitterness and grudges. Uh, seek God's guidance through prayer. Pray for humility and discernment, the ability to love others as Christ loved them. I pray that prayer a lot. Lord, help me love people without condition. There are so many people that don't believe you can love unconditionally, but it's a must for believers. It's a must that we at least try to not put any restrictions on our love because it is a lot of times it's out of self-preservation. But we have to. We have to love like Jesus loves.

SPEAKER_07 1:00:03

God is love. It's like the closer you get to Christ, the easier it becomes. You know, uh, when you first start the journey, you you may not understand that's because uh you're not on solid food yet. You still on milk.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:17

Yes.

SPEAKER_07 1:00:18

Uh just understand as you go through the journey, it becomes easier, you know, the closer you get to Christ. And that's a thing that I'm I'm truly starting to understand. Because if you talk to me maybe a year ago, it's like, man, these people up here tripping.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:36

Right.

SPEAKER_07 1:00:36

And they got the right one, you know. But now it's like, don't none of that matter. That's right. You know, because your focus is to glorify God in everything that you do and every place that you go. So it becomes easier to just be like, man, you know, that's you know, we understand the principalities versus the flesh, you know, and it's like it's easier to see when when when you in this word, and this word is telling you, okay, and how and teaching you word for word how to navigate it, you know, it becomes easier. So if you are uh new to this walk, you know, don't don't beat yourself up. That's right. Because the closer you get to Christ, the easier it becomes, and you'll you'll be able to see the growth that God gave me. That's right. Nothing you did yourself. That's right. That's the growth that God gave.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:27

Because I tell myself now, I'm sorry, you know, I tell myself now, going through certain things on the job, and uh sometimes at home, but my I have peace. I ain't gonna lie. Uh, because I've known, I've learned to keep peace in my life. And sometimes it means shutting down, backing away, you know, and uh, but I tell when some something like that tries to when the enemy tries to infiltrate, I just say, Lord, you you my daddy, handle it for me. Yeah, you got it, yeah. And I and I that's what I say. You might you you gonna handle it for me? I'm uh it's bigger than me. You got it, and that's how I treat different things, you know, because the enemy is everything is spiritual, family. I've been we've been saying that in the uh studio for a few years now, but everything is spiritual, and you have to understand that uh only what we do for Christ, or how we treat people uh in a Christ-like manner, he sees everything we do. That's right. He what he watches what we do, omnipresent.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:51

Yeah, he's always there, yeah. But and I just wanted to add to uh don't ever forget that you can ask God if you lack anything, yes, if you lack uh the thing of love and loving others, always ask God. He said, ask. You know, knock, keep on knocking. You know what I'm saying? Don't give up. I'm gonna just give up and throw in the tiles, knock, seek him. That's what he's there for. Paul even told us, you know, seek those things which are above and not the things on the earth. And God will give those things that's needed to us, you know. Because I mean, I I I'm almost like like you. I had, you know, I think everybody was trying to try to hurt me because that's that was my life. You know, so I'm got my goins up. And like you said, I just let it down. And Lord, I please help me in this. Could you please get me out of this? Because I felt like I was still in darkness when I was supposed to have been walking in the light. And uh God just started doing things in my life, my heart. Like you were saying earlier, I love that because he dealed with the heart of man. Yes, he does. And he transformed my mind. Yeah, Jesus. And so I just started walking it. I'm free. I don't care who say what about me. I don't care, you know what I'm saying? And stuff like that. So I'm still gonna love you. I know you did this to me. I know you said that about me, but I love you enough to pray for your soul's salvation. Amen. And that's the unconditional part. That's right, you know, because if we don't, we're gonna have those traits of a narcissist. I don't perish. That's right. When Jesus died for you, you said that. Right. So we got to have that compassion, you know. Believe me, God knows your heart too. Yes, you do.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:39

Just because he because you ain't saying, I hope they perish out loud. But if you say it in your mind, he knows that.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:47

And he really does. And the thing about that is though, it especially with the way of the world, is easily to be guarded. Because through life experiences, you're gonna have trials and tribulations. So naturally, the first defense is to guard your heart. But the thing is, though, just like the thing, like growing up, a lot of people say, Yeah, you gotta earn my trust. Why do they? What is so special about you that they have to earn? And I retrained myself to say, I'm gonna give it up front. If you violate that or you go against that, then that's your decision, then. But the thing about it is, uh, when times like that happen, I used to be quick to be right back at somebody or say something back to them or do something to them. And what I learned that when people do that, the enemy tries to take you back because he tries to tour you. So pray for them. Yeah, you gotta stop and pray for them. I mean, this has been times like stuff will happen at work, uh, like it's a lot of gossiping and stuff. I can't stand that. And the one thing I do, if I hear my name, I'ma say I just pray for them.

SPEAKER_05 1:05:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:42

Because the key thing is you don't know what people are going through. Because there'll be times where you can be somewhere and somebody may say something crazy to you. We live in St. Louis, ain't no telling what can happen.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:50

Right.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:51

And then when things occur, I just start practicing praying for folks more. Because again, you don't know what they're dealing with, what spirit. Is a demonic spirit may be over them. Or even if the enemy is trying to just distract you from your blessings or kind of try to block your blessings through that. So the main thing is start praying for folk more.

SPEAKER_07 1:06:13

And that's another thing to uh get to a point where you can see the word of God working. Like when you say uh the word says love covers a multitude.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:24

That's right.

SPEAKER_07 1:06:24

You know, but the younger Christian version of you can't see that. But the more mature or seasoned Christian, like, oh, that's what that's for. You know, man. It's it's love is a and all, be all cure for whatever, like a disagreement, for whatever it is. It it is the it is the honest cure for it. I watched, I watched it work when I made a conscious choice to say, you know what? I'm a love on this person. And I'm talking about instantly, everything turned in my favor. I'm I'm thinking, okay, this just a normal, this is just a normal day at work, you know, and it ends with, hey, you mind if I talk to you? See? And look, I'm gonna I'm gonna tell you what was confirmation. I said, yes, ma'am. A person younger than me. But some before I could even think, I said, yes, ma'am. So I'm following. We go in the office. As soon as she pulled her key out to unlock her door, she says, Oh no, you ain't in trouble. You know, that normally was a running joke when I was out of the knowing. You see what I'm saying? Oh no, I'm gonna come there, I'm gonna tuck my bag, you know. It was a running joke. But I was like, yes, ma'am, and we go to the office. She said, you ain't in trouble. Turn door, and then okay, when you get back, this is what is on the table for you. This is where you're going now. This is what you're gonna do, starting money. And I'll just wow. I was standing there just favor.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:14

Thank you, Jesus.

SPEAKER_07 1:08:15

Like turn it in your favor.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:17

Yes, it is.

SPEAKER_07 1:08:19

And and and to be able to see it.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:21

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_07 1:08:22

Not just talk about it. See, I'm big on when I tell my wife, I said, you know, I'm tired of people playing church. That's that's that's a personal thing of me. I'm tired of seeing people play church. When some people like us, we desire and we need that daily.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:43

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_07 1:08:44

You know, to get through some of these situations that's thrown at us in this world. You know, so I don't I get upset when people are playing church. Let's not play church, y'all. Let's let's really be the body of Christ. Yes, right. You know, people need those gifts that's down in us. That's right. You know, that we gotta pull up by the root. You know, uh, man. That's the truth. It's the truth. It is the truth. Yeah, thank you, Father.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:11

Thank you, Lord. Yeah, he's worthy. Yes, he is.

SPEAKER_07 1:09:14

People really need what you hold on to.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:17

Yes, sir. Thank you.

SPEAKER_07 1:09:19

Let's start to tell it. Yeah, walk in this thing. Yes, yeah, sincerity and display, truly display the love of Christ. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes, they are. That's why it's so easy for them to go astray. Because they're looking for it in you and you won't give it to them.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:42

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:44

Let's say you may be the only Bible people may come across, so you gotta let your light shine at all time.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:50

That's that's why. No, don't be sorry. That's why the Holy Spirit said, talk about this. This topic was on the paper for a while. On the list of topics. But it's time for us to stop playing. Just like Rich said. It's time for us to stop playing, family, because we, as the body of Christ, are needed to be examples. We can't be lukewarm and examples because they're looking at us, everything, and and it they're supposed to look at us and dissect us. That's what the enemy's job is. That's what people who are don't want to grow. I'm talking about young Christians. They're watching us, and we have to be mindful to be more and more Christ-like. We have to get rid of these narcissistic ways. Look at the word for what it is. We cherry pick, like you said, or somebody said, we cherry pick what we want out of the word. Well, it don't say this right here. So that makes me cool, but that's not true. It's not the if the word says it, if God says it, that settles it for me. That settles it.

SPEAKER_07 1:11:23

Yeah. Amen.

SPEAKER_02 1:11:25

Yeah. But Father God, we come to you just thanking you for this podcast, Father God. Thank you for opening our minds to what narcissism actually is, Father God. It's so much deeper than we even can think of. Uh, pride comes before the fall, Father God, and we're asking that you will touch anybody that's listening to this, uh, be it today, next year, or 10 years from now, that they will be touched by the words that came out of Vent 101's mouths, Father God. Continue to grow this ministry so that we will be able to bring forth the word to many millions of people, Father God. Continue to touch each one of us in our prospective homes, Father God, and touch those who are following us and supporting us in a monetary way. I'm asking that you increase their funds. Lord, can increase their funds, Father God, for even helping us along the way in the name of Jesus, Lord. Continue to guide us in our walk and help us to want, to have the desire to grow, to share those narcissistic views, Lord, because all of us are carrying some of them. In Jesus' name I pray. You're worthy, Lord. Thank you, Jesus. You're worthy of all the glory and the praise and the honor we give you each and every day. In Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you, Lord. You're worthy. Thank you, Jesus.

SPEAKER_04 1:13:01

Thank you, Jesus.

SPEAKER_02 1:13:02

He's worthy. Thank you, Lord. Thanks for tuning in. We look forward to having you back next week. Advent 101.