How The Holy Spirit Helps Us Escape Spiritual Manipulation

1. The Holy Spirit uses the truth of God's word to show us that we are not dependent on people, but God and His truth. Jesus said, "If you continue in my word, then truly are you are my disciples indeed. And you will know (love it through real life experiences) the truth and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31,32) Ask the Lord to help you appropriate the freeing power of an obedient relationship to the Lord and His word by the enablement of the Spirit.

2. The Holy Spirit frees us from any fear of isolation, rejection or abuse that we might experience from oppressive people. Many people feared what the Pharisees might do to them if they spoke out against their spiritual manipulations. Even the parents of the blind man whom Jesus healed were afraid to speak the truth. When the Pharisees asked them a question, "Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?" The parents replied, "We know he is our son and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he can speak for himself." (John 9:19-21) Ask the Lord to help you free people from their feelings of paranoia with the protecting power of the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote, "God has not given us the Spirit of fear, but the Spirit of power, love and self-discipline." (2 Tim. 1:7) Let your faith rest less in the traditions of men and more in power of the Spirit.

3. The Holy Spirit shows us how to get free from extreme subjective manipulators. Some leaders convince their followers that what is true is decided on the basis of their personal feelings and experiences, giving more weight to their own authority than God's word. Paul told Timothy, "Be diligent to present yourself approved of God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15) Ask the Lord to give you the wisdom, courage and diligence to use discernment to determine the truth without having to depend on any person's subjective feelings, experiences or background for authority.

4. The Holy Spirit can free us from the abuses of persecution, criticism or organizational pressure. Many believers are so afraid of being persecuted, misunderstood or pressured by people in their organization that they "go along to get along". Jesus warned that one of the worst dangers to the flock was from wolves in the house. Jesus said, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." (Matt.10:16) Ask the Lord to free you from the unwillingness to bear the pain of persecution, criticism or adverse pressure as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. The Spirit will give you great grace to bear up under any affliction.

5. The Holy Spirit can free us from any authoritative abuser using the legal system. Paul wrote, "There is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." (Rom. 13:1) "Do you want to have no fear of authority? Then do what is good." (Rom. 13:3) The Lord can use the legal system to protect you from all kinds of abuses from your authorities. If some leaders do not fear God they probably will fear legal prosecutors who can use shame, guilt and the law to help them face the truth. Ask the Lord to guide you to people who help you use all legal means possible to free you from abusive authorities.

6. The Holy Spirit can counsel us through specialists in the field of spiritual abuse and false manipulators. Do not hesitate to get special counseling from people who are specially trained in the rescuing people from all types of abuse. God used Daniel because he was specially trained, educated and equipped to perform a particular task. "Young men showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace." (Daniel 1:4) Ask the Lord to lead you to specialists who have had plenty of experiences in counseling victims of a whole range of abuse and manipulation.

7. The Holy Spirit can help us shift misplaced loyalties from egotistic leaders back onto the Lord. Many people gradually develop unhealthy loyalties to egotistic leaders in exchange for approval, security, promotion or recognition. Some leaders will resort to scare tactics to keep people under their control, but the Spirit fights our battles for us. Paul wrote, "What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task." (I Cor. 3:5) Ask the Lord for the courage, wisdom and the wherewithal to redirect your peoples' loyalties from egotistical leaders back to God. Refuse to be intimidated by leaders' threats of humiliation, rejection or punishment. David said, "I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all of my fears!" (Psalm 34:4)