Saturday Motivation: Say No to Manipulation

16th January 2021
Saturday Motivation
Say No To Manipulation

Text 1: Genesis 27v1-46; When Isaac was old and his eyes was dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, My son, and he answered, here I am, He said behold, I am old, I do not know the day of my death. Now take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out and hunt game for me and prepare for me delicious food , such as I love and bring it to me so that I may eat , that my soul may bless you before I die…….

Text 2: 2 Corinthians 11v12-15; But what I do, I will also continue to do that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Text 3: Matthew 24v4-5; and Jesus answered them, see that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and will deceive many.

What Is Manipulation?
Manipulation means to coerce or control another person into one’s own advantage. It also involves not allowing the other person to make their own choices but is geared towards making them perform our own desires through different schemes.

Manipulation is a kind of lying. It occurs when someone you trust speaks falsely in order to deceive you.

Manipulation is also a form of deception because it involves taking advantage of others in order to achieve a goal through falsehood.

There are a lot of manipulators out there and we must be careful not to fall into their traps.

A lot of people are manipulative by nature; they have strong wills and their personalities engender trust. We must be careful when we meet new people and must get to know people very well before we trust them and hand over our secrets or family histories to them because they may end up using the information to hurt us.

Manipulators are tremendously gifted and have the ability to immediately spot your weakness and use it to gain control over you, your finances or your marriage.
Manipulators often move close to people who have a need they can fill because they know that they can easily manipulate people who are needy.

When you finally break free from a master manipulator, you will look back at the whole ordeal that you survived and wonder how you were so naïve to have fallen for such a scam.

What is manipulation according to the bible?
Manipulation is as old as the book of Genesis where the architect of manipulation himself (Satan) manipulated Adam and Eve to sin.

Manipulation is an art adopted by narcissistic or controlling people who warm their way into the heart of others with deception in order to make them do their will whether they want to or not. They do not care whether what they want others to do is something that they need or not. Their goal is to enslave others and keep them at their beck and call. They will use tricks and tactics that range from accusations to calling you insensitive or disloyal. They may even allege that you lack Christian values or are unkind in order to pressurize you into devoting your time, your money and your attention into doing what they want even though you are not led by the Lord to do it.
Manipulation is ungodly and destructive. It also occurs when people speak half-truths to cajole others into doing something they wouldn’t normally do if they weren’t manipulated.

Manipulation is an attempt to prevent people from exercising their own will so as to replace it with the will or desires of the manipulator.

The root cause of manipulation is the selfish desire of man and the ultimate outcome is total disregard for the dignity of the other person which often leads to destruction and other evil vices.

Manipulating others is unbiblical as God who is the creator of all things will not force or coerce us into doing his will. Rather, He has given us free will.

Traits of manipulators
Manipulators may be male or female and may come from any ethnic group. The art of manipulation is not restricted to a particular sex, race or ethnicity.
Traits of master manipulators include;

1. A master manipulator will not stop trying to get their way even when you have told them countless times that you do not want what they want to give you or that you are not interested in what they are saying. They may accept your answer for a while but they will work out a new strategy to try to change your mind.
2. A manipulator will never consider the needs of others more important than theirs. They will always consider their needs as more important than the needs of others.
3. A manipulator will use guilt and shame as a weapon to control you.
4. A manipulator will use fake visions and fake interpretation of dreams to scare you and you may end up running away from those you should run to and run into the arms of those you should run from.
5. A master manipulator will refuse to let you have healthy relationships. They may tell you to leave your family, husband and even your location. If you fall for their scam, it may end up uprooting you from God`s divine agenda or plan for your life.
6. A master manipulator is very good at his or her art and they know how to continue to spin you around like a hula hoop with lies and fears so that you will accept them as the final authority on things.
7. A master manipulator will try to cage you and draw you deeper into their web of lies and deceit so that you will not be able to escape. They will work to manipulate everyone around you also and cause fights and rancor so that you will shut out everyone from your life. The reason they do this is because they do not want anyone to find out what they have been doing.
8. Some evil manipulators may even go to the extent of forbidding you to talk to anyone who they see as a threat to their ultimate control over you.
9. A master manipulator will keep you away from people who are more discerning. Those who will be able to see clearly that this is manipulation and abuse but you will not be able to see it and the manipulator will do everything to make sure that he keeps you away from the people that love you.
10. A manipulator will hate that other people are giving you warnings about the unhealthy relationship that you are into and they will do anything to sow seeds of discord and rancor between you and other people so that they can control you absolutely.
    Please be sure to watch out for these signs because if someone is trying to prevent you from spending time with other people who love you and want the best for you, it simply means that you are in a relationship with a master manipulator.

Types of Manipulation

1. Verbal manipulation: Based on words
2. Emotional manipulation Based on feelings
3. Spiritual manipulation: Based on knowledge about you
4. Physical manipulation: Based on contact.

Methods of Manipulation

1. Victim Method; this is a form of manipulation in which the manipulator plays the poor me card to make you feel pity for them. They are always in need and will do anything to get their needs met.
2. Master Method: this is the I am in charge type of manipulator who sees himself as king and master of the other person`s life.
3. Savior Method; this is a manipulator who sees himself or herself as special and possess spiritual gifts that are beneficial to those they want to manipulate. They are very skillful in their art and they will make you think that everything they are doing is for your own good. They will use information that you have given them to make evil projections into your life and claim to know what your future will be like. They will go to any length to continue to enslave you.
4. Silence Method: this is an art adopted by a master manipulator where he or she goes totally silent on you with the hope that you will miss and crave them and eventually return to them for further manipulation. Such manipulators believe that they have a hold on you and your life.

Negative Impacts of Manipulation

1. Depression
2. Lack of trust
3. Mental stress
4. Reduced self-confidence
5. Feelings of shame and guilt
6. Low self-esteem
7. Painful emotions

Examples of manipulators in the Bible

1. Satan manipulated Eve; Genesis 3v1-5
2. Eve manipulated Adam; Genesis 3v6
3. Sarah manipulated Abraham; Genesis 16v2
4. Delilah manipulated Samson; Judges 14v16-18, Judges 16v15-17
5. Jezebel manipulated Ahab; 1 Kings 21v1-16, 1 Kings 21v7-16
6. Rebekah manipulated Jacob; Genesis 27v5-10
7. Jacob manipulated Isaac: Genesis25v31-34
8. Laban manipulated Jacob: Genesis 29v22-25
9. Jacob manipulated Laban: Genesis 30v31-43
10. Aaron manipulated Moses; Exodus 32v22-24
11. Eli sons manipulated the people; 1Samuel 2v12-17

Bible verses

1. 1 Timothy 4v1: Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.
2. Matthew 10v16: Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
3. Galatians 6v7: Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sow, that will he also reap.
4. Proverbs 21v6: The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.
5. Proverbs 29v12: If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked.
6. Proverbs 12v22: Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
7. 2 Corinthans11v3; But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve, by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ
8. Revelation 18v4-5; and I heard another voice from heaven saying, come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven and God has remembered her iniquities.
9. Genesis 3v4: But the serpent said to the woman, you will not surely die.
10. 1 John 3v9: No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God`s seeds abides in him and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
11. Matthew 23v3: So practice and observe whatever they tell you-but not what they do. For they preach but do not practice.
12. Leviticus 25v17: Do not take advantage of each other but fear God. I am the LORD your God.
13. Ephesians 4v25: Therefore putting away lying, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
14. 2 Timothy 3v6: For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
15. Philippians 2v3-4: Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility, count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others.

Prayers: Dear Heavenly Father, please protect me from every form of manipulation and manipulators. Help me to see their deception no matter how they may sugar coat it. I shall not fall into their traps nor be caught in their evil webs. Help me to rely and stabilize my life on your word alone. Grant me the wisdom to see through their manipulative tactics so that I can continue to walk in your will for my life and my destiny. No evil manipulator shall be able to destroy my life, destiny or marriage in this year 2021 and beyond, in Jesus Mighty Name! Amen!
Trillion Amen!
Shalom!