Beware of Manipulators

"You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn't come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. And please don't toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread. Deep down, the Master has given me confidence that you will not defect. But the one who is upsetting you, whoever he is, will bear the divine judgment."

 The Message Bible Galatians 5:7-10

What does this Scripture mean and where do I begin with my thoughts as they relate to this Scripture?  I was seeking out a Scripture to describe what happened to me and what can easily happen to any of us.  You can be well on your way, your planned course of DESTINY, and someone will come, cut in on you and throw you of course.  How does this happen?  It can happen in many different ways and there are many different people who will cut in on you.  The BEST way to keep this from happening is to keep yourself COVERED in PRAYER.  YOU, ME, WE have to literally BATHE ourselves in PRAYER.

So, who is this person that cuts in on us?  It's someone with a "Manipulative Spirit".  Not that I have experienced everything in life that there is or ever will be to experience, nor have I attained all the knowledge that there is to attain; but after careful reflection this is who I found the perpetrator to be - a manipulative spirit.  Then, as I begin to share my experience with others, people began to open up and share similar experiences with me.  The common theme in all our stories was the same; we all had someone with a manipulative spirit to cross our paths.

People with a manipulative spirit are very sharp and cunning; they are literally wolves in sheep clothing. 

 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. ¹⁶ You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. ¹⁹ So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.  

Matthew 7:15-20 NLT

But Fear Not!!  "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind," 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV.  There's no need to walk in fear.  The key is PRAYER.  Prayer opens up the door, the spiritual door for us to be keenly aware of our surroundings.  Prayer builds up our spiritual muscles too.  The more we pray, the greater level of discernment we're able to walk in; which means a greater measure of VICTORY!!  The enemy is already a defeated foe, we just have to walk in it.

Be not discouraged and be not dismayed!  Jesus the Lover of Your Soul has sent you The One, The Comforter, The Holy Spirit to guide and lead us into ALL TRUTH!!!

So what is the purpose of this post?  Well, besides giving myself the opportunity share my thoughts in a public forum; the purpose of this post is to not only warn you but to encourage you, as well.  Although these things can happen, "Fear Not!"  God will not be mocked.  His purpose and His plan and the DESTINY He put in you will be fulfilled.  Remember, The Call of God on your life is greater than any outside force trying to maneuver against you. "But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. ⁵ Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. ⁶ But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception." - 1 John 4:4-6 NLT.

Check your PRAYER barometer!!  If it's running on low pull-in for a fill-up.  It will be worth your while.

Yvette