Recognizing and Resisting Fear-Based Manipulation
There was a time, not too long ago, when everything I did was driven by fear. I cannot begin to explain to you the depth of delusion I had descended into, knowing fully well, that ‘God has not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, love, sound mind…’ It didn’t happen in one day, mind you – and hopefully when I am done with the series of free writes I have in my head, you will be inspired to be on guard as well.
I distinctly remember waking up on a Saturday morning in frustration. The night before I had learnt (from a sermon) that the devil could be siphoning money from me whenever I walk over a gutter.
It must have been the weekend before that, when I was informed that the best waakye joints had cobras lying at the bottom of their stew.
Before then, I had been convinced (through yet another sermon) that walking around my home without underwear was an invitation to spirits to have unsolicited sex with me.
Sometime well before then, I was informed that going to the beach was an affirmative response to initiation into the marine kingdom.
I almost forgot; the time when I had to perform an anointing service over hairpieces before I could attach them to my hair, for fear of being initiated into witchcraft or the marine kingdom.
Honestly.
I could go on, but I hope you get the picture. My entire life in that period was ruled by fear, because I had become so conscious about what the devil and his goons are doing, that I lost sight of what my Father, my Lord and Holy Spirit were doing, and what they had empowered me to do.
I woke up frustrated, thinking – this cannot be life. It was like whiplash, and I could not believe how deceived I had been for such a long time. I’ve chewed on this for a while, and though there is a role to be played by the ones who feed this information, today, my love letter is to you, the listeners.
This is the summary: no matter what you are told about the spiritual world, or demons, spirits, whatever – never forget that God, thee all powerful God, surpasses them all… and that God lives in you (that is, if you have yielded to Him as your Lord and Saviour). Yes, those things exist, and they could sway you if you are not on your guard. As believers, we enforce the reality of Jesus’ sacrifice, that empowers us to walk as citizens of His Kingdom.
With this mindset, we do not cross gutters or braid our hair without the knowledge of what the enemy is doing, but with the knowledge that he doesn’t hold power over us, as citizens of the Kingdom of God.
It is ironic that the very place where I should have received this conviction and confidence in my identity, was the source of all my fear and insecurity: the pulpit. (This will be unpacked in subsequent articles)
Disclaimer: this is not an attack on the church – or the body of Christ. It is home to me. I’m simply an advocate of taking responsibility of the influence that the pulpit has. And though I do not intend to point any fingers, fear mongering cannot be a tool for keeping believers “in line”. That’s wrong. And God will ask them.
Until he does, the rest of us need to walk with the knowledge of who we are in Christ. Free from fear. Free from sin. Free to make impact for the Kingdom of God. Without that knowledge, we will indeed, perish.
Let's talk - have you ever experienced this? How were you able to get out of it? Share your thoughts in the comments and share this article to bless someone.
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