A CULTURE ADDICTED to “SELF”
by ‘Pastor Dave’
“Yesterday, I read a report about an Ohio State University study involving 900 adults ranging in age from 18 to 90 which claimed that young Americans place such a high value on their sense of self-worth that they crave praise and compliments more than food, friendship, and sex! The study also observed that this craving is akin to an addiction. It is insatiable. The participants in the study are not all narcissists, of course, but they’re kissin’ cousins.
The professor who conducted the study identified the 1969 book The Psychology of Self-Esteem as the launching point for a generation of Americans obsessed with self-esteem. He concluded that the obsession is only going to get worse — “as each new generation enters a culture that puts a premium on self-worth, younger Americans spend more time craving and searching for self-esteem boosts–and less time thinking about others. All that time spent thinking about yourself not only contributes to depression, but it makes society a less kind and gentle place.”
The seismic shift that began in 1969 has resulted in the tsunamis of Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, reality TV shows and life- enhancement church services. Americans just can’t seem to get enough of being true to self, expressing self, fulfilling self, improving self and advancing self. This addiction has had an enormous impact on the Christian community. Choosing a church to attend is no longer a matter of finding where the Word of God is taught and where people are striving to live in a manner that pleases God. It is now a matter of finding a church that has the best programs, preferred music, and activities.
American Christians have become consumers rather than practitioners. We look for the most enjoyable services, the most convenient schedules, the most engaging presentations, and the programs that fulfill our desires to the greatest degree. We seem drawn to the churches that are most like the world. Our primary concern about church is not how we can serve the church body, but how the church body can serve us.
Churches that are preaching that Christians are deserving of and entitled to good things, happiness, blessings, and personal fulfillment are bursting at the seams. Churches that preach poorness in spirit, mournfulness for sin, meekness, purity in heart, and a hunger for righteousness, are struggling to find people willing to listen. Are we witnessing the fulfillment of Paul’s warning to Timothy, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
We can’t be hungry for righteousness and addicted to self at the same time.”
If you name the name of Jesus, God is calling you to repent at once and lay down your life before it’s too late. You must learn the daily cross if you are going to truly follow Christ and be with Him eternally. The Laid Down Life
Articles
Gospel Action in Mexico Part 37

UPDATE – DELIVERED FOOD TODAY; – I purchased numerous food items for Clara and her boys today. Traversing difficult terrain to deliver the goods God supplied through your faithful giving left me with a sidewall puncture. A sidewall puncture cannot be patched and replacement was quoted at $274. Settled for a used tire. In this challenge came opportunity.
God used the punctured tire for me to meet a wayward man. Jose has spent time in the USA and has family there. His wife is presently in Colorado; he expressed strain on his family. Jose received God’s Word preached to him and the JESUS tract and said “You know what?, my wife is also a Christian.” Wow. So, his beloved wife is praying for him to be saved and God answered her prayer in part by connecting me with him. This opportunity is because of your support for this ministry. Can we please pray for Jose and his family?
I am continuing to learn to assert Romans 8:28-29 into everything.
— 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Can anyone relate?
Mark is encouraging me in helping more people, one person/family at a time. Your prayers and giving are more than important, it is essential.
I found out Clara was in need again and was moved upon by the LORD to get her and her 3 sons some food. Her whole monthly money needed to sustain her, and her boys is about $350. The house she rents is $120 per month. I will leave it there.
It is amazing how much further our contributions go in Mexico, how much more it’s multiplied. A little bit of money and ministry here goes a long way to bless and expand Christ’s kingdom! …and to give hope to the hopeless.
We continue to pray for a few more saints to assert themselves into this opportunity. God is able, amen! All I can do is let these things be known. I am blessed by your support as I am encouraged by the fruitfulness of Mission Mexico both in the reach of the spiritual needs and the physical needs of God’s children. You are responding to Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 6:19-21
—19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Clara’s Cry Video was featured recently. Click here.
Please lift a prayer in Jesus’ name for the fruitfulness and supply of our LORD work here with Mission Mexico. God be praised. Multitudes being reached daily with Jesus Christ’s bless-ed Gospel – spoken to them and given in print in the JESUS tract in Spanish.
BELOVED ANTONIO came by again tonight to get something to eat. I warmly received and welcomed him. Had him sit down and rest with fresh water to drink while his delicious meal was cooking. When he left I broke down while hugging him and letting him know you are lifting him in prayer and that God loves him. I played the Spanish Bible audio of Scripture to him while I was cooking so the Word would be planted in his heart…. WHO wants to cry out with me to our LORD for this young man? WHO wants to seek God for a complete change in his precious life? Salvation and good employment/work, etc. Let it not be that he could ever say that “No man cared for my soul.” – “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.” (Psalms 142:4) Jesus is coming saints. Let us pour out His love to the hurting. Jesus Christ died for this beloved young man! Mission Mexico is rolling! “WE are labourers TOGETHER with God.” (1 Corinthians 3:9) This is what it’s all about dear saints. Jump in. God will bless.
“The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.” Psalms 145:14
Beloved brother in Christ Cesar spent the last 14 days with his beloved mother before she passed. Mark and I went to visit Cesar the day after his mother passed. Mark and I agreed that Cesar was ministering to us. We went to comfort him and he ministered to us! Whew! You are invited to lift our beloved brother Cesar in prayer.
Oh and Cesar too about 50-60 JESUS tracts to distribute.
The plans are to be spending more time fellowshipping with Cesar again soon.
Months ago, I handed Cesar a JESUS tract and we begin to talk and he shared that he is a born again disciple of Jesus. Yesterday, with tears in his eyes, Cesar shared his testimony of Jesus’ salvation of his life 24 years ago. This is a beloved brother in our LORD Jesus for certain. Unpretentious.
As is so often the case, we gave this man a JESUS tract and spoke the Word to him. A few moments later here he is hungrily reading about His Make and King, and Savior Jesus.
Saints we are supporting a missionary in the Philippines and am thanking the LORD for your prayers and supply to our LORD’s Gospel work …..
Anyone wish to pause and lift this man to our LORD in prayer? When ministered to, Victor asked questions. He searching. God is able.
Thank you for praying for the beautiful people of this country. More Mission Mexico coverage here.
Remember brother Justin (from Australia) whom God miraculously saved here in Mexico? He is very grateful that you are lifting him in prayer. Praying for Christ’s saints is an essential (Colossians 4:12). Today Justin sent this:
“I was reading the book of Jo
hn and the woman at the well last night, contemplating how some plant seeds to be harvested by others (John 4). Just being grateful to serve the Lord without needing to see results. Bless you. You certainty planted some seeds with me. I’ll check out Titus! Thank you brother. I am working out my salvation with fear and trembling, for sure, and I wouldn’t be doing it so much harder now without your support.” Justin B.
UPDATE ON BROTHER JUSTIN B.
Thank you for lifting in prayer our brother Justin B. (Australian) here in Mexico. He was saved just a few months ago here. Here’s the latest from our brother. Please pray the Word for him. John 15; Colossians 4:12
“I am good, brother. I am back in the slipstream of the Word. Felt like I had to experience the desert of doubt to come out with more clarity. Though, ultimately, trust in God is not necessarily clear. Getting confident in God with that “cloud of unknowing.”
Daily brother. It’s my clarion call/prayer now. Diminish me but increase my faith. Purify my heart, Lord, so I may glorify Your name. Thank you for showing me the way and keeping faith in me, brother.” Justin B.
Do we recall how Jesus told Peter “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:31-32)
Here’s the post where the account of Jesus saving Justin is contained.
This is beloved David (pictured above) who received extensive ministry of God’s love and Word. Please lift up David, Daniel, and Justin. Colossians 4:12.
Omar was invited to have you pray for him. He readily agreed and is glad to know you are lifting him to our LORD in prayer. Jesus told us He desires to save Omar (1 Timothy 2:4).
“My Dear Brother, I will continue to lift Clara and those precious children in prayer; for I know firsthand the hardship of raising 3 little ones alone in this selfish world. I am thankful to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY for sending strangers into my life during my time of despair and brokenness. Thank you brother for being a good steward with the gifts that the people of God send into the Lord’s Ministry. May the Lord God bless and keep you all the days of your life.” Jacquie
Support Mission Mexico here. Takes seconds.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
Mission Mexico – See more here.
Download. Read. Print out your supply of the JESUS tract – English and Spanish.
Abiding
Seeking the Will of God [podcast]

“Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
Maturity in Christ is seen in those who unrelentingly seek His face! 1 Chronicles 16:11
YOU are either going to clearly prove you love God by perpetually flooding your heart and mind with the Word, prayer, and praises of our LORD Jesus Christ…. or you absolutely will fall away (Luke 8:13; 1 Timothy 4:1-2, etc.).
“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.” Psalms 27:4
“When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.” Psalms 27:8
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5
“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3
Notice that those not seeking the LORD today, are forsaking Him.
“if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” 1 Chronicles 28:9
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14
YOUR PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please forgive my sins afresh. I have had other gods before You and so have committed the sin of idolatry and spiritual adultery. Please wash me afresh with Your blood dear LORD Jesus. Create in me a clean heart, an heart of flesh and remove the stony places. Please help me to sense Your leading and impressions. You are my Great Shepherd and I am Your sheep. Fill me with Your Holy Ghost dear LORD and please use me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Apostasy
Beware of the Manipulating Monsters: Spiritual Identity Theft [podcast]

Instead of fostering a deeper love for CHRIST in their hearers, local churches have diverted that loyalty, the faith of their hearers to themselves (1 Corinthians 29-2:5). This is “the spirit of antichrist” at work (1 John 2:18; 4:1-3). Anti in “antichrist” means “in place of” and the vast majority of local churches seek to replace Christ with themselves – to intercept the heart affections of their audience from loving Jesus Christ supremely – to rob Him of His glory for their own self-serving agenda! Beware! This was Paul’s warning of Colossians 1-2. Christ alone is the Supreme Creator, Sustainer, Reconciler, Redeemer, and Savior! Pour prayerfully over Colossians 1 and 2 this week beloved of God.
“…do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
You cannot and won’t please everyone and such should not be your goal. Please God beloved and in NON-essentials, make your own decisions – void of the undue, unwarranted interference of others! (Read Romans 14.) Some people are operating in witchcraft and don’t realize it. They haven’t repented and learned how to mind their own business. And, so many live under the witchcraft of pleasing family and friends and the whims of others. If that’s you, you are not yet free but you can be. Seek the LORD in special prayer. Repent afresh and ask God to strip off every trace of witchcraft and control over your life. Ask Him to establish your life in His love and truth and all fear shall be vanquished from your life! See 1 John 4:16-18.
Note: Anything that is not specifically named as a sin in the Bible, is a NON-essential and that means that God gives YOU the liberty to conduct yourself as you see fit. Read and get to know Romans 14. | Learning to Mind Our Own Business
Those who insidiously seek to position themselves, to maneuver things to manipulate you, are fully arrogant and that’s why they believe THEY know better than God and you concerning your life, your decisions, your ministry, your direction, etc.. Beware. These are the very enemies of Christ. Like snakes in the grass, people like this are insidiously operating in witchcraft and as sure for hell as if they were already there (Galatians 5:19-21). Beware.
Untold scores of men, all of which had a calling from God, have allowed wicked manipulators to derail, destroy, and waste their lives. Beware.
Beware of those with an agenda….. an agenda that is not God’s agenda/will. With Jesus our LORD, the true disciple declares to God – “NOT my will, but thine be done” (Luke 22:42). All of the unsaved are under the control of Satan, the enemy of all souls.
“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” Ephesians 2:1-2
Most if not all of us have realized that there are lots of manipulators around us who vie for the control of our lives, who attempt to push their agenda, their personal will on us. Solidifying our identity in Christ, becoming increasingly rooted and grounded in Him, is essential to be kept from such witchcraft. The aim, the stated will of God, is to root and ground every one of His saints ever more deeply into Christ. Pour prayerfully, meticulously over Colossians 1 and 2 beloved, and ask the LORD to root your heart and life deeper into Christ in whom alone you are “complete.” Ask the Father that your constitution, your innermost identity would be Christ and Christ alone! (Read Galatians 2:20; 6:14; 1 Corinthians 2:2, etc.)
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14
If your life is not all about CHRIST, you are in trouble. Stop. Re-turn afresh to the LORD. Declare JESUS CHRIST as the LORD, Savior, Master, First Love of your life in this world! Do it with force! Memorize Galatians 6:14.
Satan is behind every attempt to derail God’s people from walking in His perfect will. Spiritual warfare. In light of the desire to get God’s Word into the hearts of the people, Paul requests prayer to be “delivered from unreasonable and wicked men.”
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3
Escaping the Witchcraft, the Manipulation
ANY person participating in the work of Satan is a child of the devil. Satan’s work is “to steal, to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). Any questions? Any activity, operation, or plan to steal the freedom or money or anything from another, is the work of Satan himself. So is to killing or destroying people or property unjustly.
May the LORD continue to increase His discernment in us – in order to see the enemy working through people from afar. Once we’ve allowed them in, they are within striking distance, right? Yes. See Matthew 7:6.
“And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.” Ecclesiastes 7:26
Did you see that? Did you see in Ecclesiastes 7:26 how those who obey God will escape the seduction and the clutches of manipulating people?
A careful reading, study, and meditation upon the words of this verse above, will yield important truths concerning spiritual warfare and overcoming through Christ.
“Witchcraft” is a soul damning sin – which means that any person operating in this sin is outside of Christ and as sure for hell as if they were already there (Galatians 5:19-21). Eternal security/once saved always saved is a lie from hell.
Any person who seeks to usurp authority over another person (his will and decisions, etc.) is operating by his own agenda and not the LORD’s. Such a person is rebellious and self-willed and therefore seeks to exert their witchcraft over the lives, the decisions, the will of others.
“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26
Remember how manipulating Delilah was as she sought to manipulate and derail Samson? Read Judges 16.
There are many examples of manipulation in the Word of God, beginning in the Garden of Eden.
In the Scripture below, notice the interaction with Paul and the false prophet, Elymas. All interference of the Gospel is from Satan. Below is but one example. This man sought to exercise control over Paul and the deputy and how the LORD judged him:
Barnabas and Saul on Cyprus
Act 13:4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
Act 13:5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
Act 13:6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
Act 13:7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
Act 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
Act 13:9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
Act 13:10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
Act 13:11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
Act 13:12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
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