Manipulators need control!
Manipulators promise “happily ever after” but leave you living in horror stories
Manipulators talk like saviors, act like soulmates but leave you looking like a fool
Manipulators serve hope on a silver platter but place it with slow poison.
Manipulators love to prey on insecure people.
Because insecure people need approval by others.
Manipulation - twisting of truth.
Deception - leading away from truth.
The root of manipulation is selfishness.
15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?” 16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were [b]delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. 18 Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.” 19 And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her. 21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.” 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. 24 And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. 25 So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?" 26 And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.” 28 Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. 29 And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. 30 Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years. (Genesis 29:15-30)
Laban manipulated Jacob into working for him for 14 years total when it should of been only 7 years.
Jacob was originally working for Rachel but Laban ended up giving Leah. This is a sign of what people who tend to manipulate the agenda do.
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” 23 Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” (Matthew 27:15-23)
As Jesus was getting accused and being on trial to be crucified, the crowd yelled to crucify Him!
When asked what Jesus did, then continued to yell crucify Him.
When the enemy doesn't have a valid reason, they continue to just become louder. They manipulated the story by increasing there voice.
34 But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:34)
A similar situation happened when a man name Demetrius, a silversmith who made shrines of the false god Diana, who's trade was threatened because the gospel of truth was being preached.
They continued to cry and just get louder chanting the same message of how great Diana is.
5 signs of a manipulator.
#1 Emotional blackmail
”Emotional debt disguise as love, you feel like you owe them something”
#2 Controlled perspective
”They don’t just want to control you, they want to control how you see everything”
#3 Mental manipulation
”When someone uses knowledge not to teach you but to tear you down”
”Words that turn to wounds”
#4 Projected insecurities
”They don’t deal with their own insecurities, they make them your problem”
”You end up carrying wounds that never belonged to you”
#5 Possessive toxic attachments
”Love with a leash”
”Love that’s a cage NOT a connection”
Imagine chasing a man who does not care about you, but ignoring the Man that gave His life for you.
How to overcome manipulation
#1 Deny yourself (Matthew 16:24)
#2 Distance yourself (Proverbs 4:23)
#3 Discern dysfunction
#4 Dedicate your life to Christ