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“The Control Connection and Lack of Accountability” — Those Who Reverence and Fear The LORD Are Stable, Predictable, and Trustworthy

I told you in my last podcast that had some things on my heart that we’re concerning me as well as just observing some of the trajectory of things going on, I guess we could call it “largely in The Body of Christ”, as well as The LORD allowing exposures and allowing things to be brought to light when others choose to not fear and revere The LORD.

When they have no real understanding of how long he gives us before we are allowed to have that brought to light.

In Ecclesiastes 8 it says, (This is the key scripture I’m using to address part of this message.)

“Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man’s misery weighs heavily upon him.” Ecclesiastes 8:5-6.

Being Tested, Stretched, and Restrained

It’s in all of our lives as believers, we face times and settings where there is a feeling of being pulled and tested, stretched and restrained.

Often, during these excruciating events, those who avoid personal character development tend to give unrestrained advice, spiritualized platitudes, and often, trumped up words of “so-called” prophetic inspiration to help us not suffer so much!

As we begin to see The LORD’s Plan in all of this we also come to understand that if we are not first hearing His voice, His heart, His word in the matters that are straining us, nothing any man or woman says can bring the ultimate light of clarity and release!

We Have Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall

We all face seasons of change that correspond much like the four seasons we observe yearly.

Nothing is more surprising than to have an interruption of what we anticipate to be what is “normal” for an earthly expectation, in one of those seasons.

When a sudden ice storm blows in unexpected in the late spring and encrusts the tender blooms on fruit trees and garden plants, we are devastated by the loss of not only the blooms, but also the fruit it could have produced. It appears as if there has been a cruel storm, sent to cause crop failure.

Upheaval. Loss. Disappointment.

For many listening to or reading this message, you feel as if you have experienced a “Crop failure”, perhaps several, and just can’t take one more aching disappointment.

Many hearts have passed their tender agonies on to me on paper, in emails and through the telephone.

Anguish Has Its Own Perfume

I have also heard the whispers of the voices of darkness try to entice, with wearisome words of worry, paranoia and doubting!

“Give up!” they say!

“What good is this time of shaking doing?”

“What possible good can come out of believing that there is something occurring that will bring a fresh and healthy move of God’s goodness, when all seems to have stalled or strained?”

In Galatians 5:19-21 Paul lists the works of the ‘flesh’ (“sinful nature”).

In the middle he mentions “idolatry, sorcery” (NKJV) or “idolatry and witchcraft” (NIV).

The Control Connection!

This is our fallen, rebellious, sinful nature.

And if not brutally dealt with – this insidious root can deceive even the Christian believer if he of she is not transparent before God and is in humble, healthy and mature relational accountability to other members in the Body of Christ!

(Not easy to do…but healthy!)

But real godly accountability must be vulnerable at all times, wise in listening to advice, and not selective about what things WE want to be accountable for or not.

“Delicatessen Accountability” is not going to bless your life, and it will frustrate your family and friends to tears.

Humility Has No Problem Exposing Itself

It’s a natural outpouring of what is in the heart of a true follower when put under the pressure of the test of exposure.

Notice in The Book of Acts that some believers openly confessed their sins to one another!

“Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.” Acts 19:18.

And again in The Book of James, all believers are urged to confess their sins humbly to one another, and allow them to be prayed for and healed of hidden wrongdoing!

“Therefore confess your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16.

So! What’s The Definition of Accountability?

Accountability – noun : responsibility. Liability, answerability : the quality or state of being accountable; especially, an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions.

This nature of the flesh often manifests itself, even in infancy, in efforts to control other people!

We feel secure if we can control others. Then they do not threaten us! They do what WE want!

God, on the other hand… never seeks to control us!

God respects the free will He has given to each of us, although He does hold us responsible for how we use that freedom.

There are three ways the desire to control others expresses itself:

• Manipulation
• Intimidation
• Domination

The Goal is Domination!

People who recognize that they are weaker than those they seek to control, tend to manipulate.

Those who feel stronger tend to intimidate.

But the end purpose is the same: to Dominate — meaning , to control others and get them to do what we want.

Many Family Relationships Portray This….

Husbands intimidate their wives by fits of rage or actual violence.

Wives manipulate their husbands by tears and hurt feelings, and often making them feel guilty for their shortcomings.

Parents frequently intimidate or manipulate their children.

But, alternatively, children can become extremely good at manipulating their parents.

One Main Tool of Manipulation is Guilt!

Once we learn to recognize the desire to control others as an evil, manipulative force, we will see it at work in many different areas.

Once we recognize these devices are disguises of rebellion, we realize that in our contemporary and post modern culture we are being exposed continually to its pressure!

This sure gives new meaning to Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 4 that says,

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers” 2 Corinthians 4:4.

People who are in the habit of using manipulation or intimidation to control others will be taken over by a deceitful spirit masquerading itself in many cloaked forms, often shifting it’s present behavior or mask, in order to influence others to THEIR WAY way of thinking.

This is still a form of evil.

After that they will be unable to relate to anyone apart from these tactics.

“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Proverbs 28:13.

“Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not cover up my wrongdoing. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to The LORD ” — And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.” Psalm 32:5.

Every Person Must Meet the Conditions for Being Set Free

“I confess my wrongdoing; I am troubled by my sin.” Psalm 38:18.

On one side, the person exercising control must repent and renounce his or her desire to control.

On the other side, the person being controlled must repent of submitting to such control.

(This does not mean necessarily a separation from the relationship… but a healthy detaching from ‘being controlled’ as the relationship functions. Fear is at work underneath this structure… fear of man…etc.)

Fear of Man. What is That?

It is obvious that we must fear God rather than man.

If we fear man more than God, we will displease God most of the time, because man’s ways are usually opposite of God’s.

The Word “Fear” Means to “Tremble”

The fear of man may be evident by someone being overly fashion-conscious, needing to be noticed for their trendy appearance.

Other forms of having the fear of man is being easily embarrassed (even when doing right), being quick to defend ourselves (with lies, if need be), the telling of grandiose or constant lies and deceptions to gain honor from others, by pretending to understand when we don’t, by giving compliments which we don’t mean, by pretending to agree when we should disagree, by avoiding giving criticisms and warnings even when necessary.

AND, here’s a big one.

Gaslighting or planting suspicious seeds about someone else in order to appear more credible or spiritual to peers.

Oh the insidious nature of the flesh!

Obviously, a man-fearer will not only displease God, but will also ultimately be considered totally unstable and untrustworthy by others — because he or she will change their mind as soon as they face someone else.

In other words, the “honor” that they receive is only a momentary acknowledgement for “convenience” provided by their man-pleasing deed.

➡️ Man-fearers are “used” and then despised. ⬅️

Besides… who knows when a “Man-fearer” may turn against you, and “Slay” you, so they can obtain honor from other men or women?

Look at the way politicians cave in under pressure due to the fear of man and loosing face in front of the “Big Money or Influencer People”!

Even if a man-fearer was loved by another, he or she is not loved, but actually his/her “pretended-self” is the “one” that is loved.

What good is having The Fear of God at work in our lives?

“The fear of The LORD is the beginning of Wisdom!” Proverbs 9:10.

The word ‘fear” means to “reverence“.

One who fears God is more concerned about what God thinks than what men think. (Acts 4:19)

The result of this fear, this reverence, is a single-minded obedience to God’s Word, and a single-minded aim to glorify God!

A God-fearer is willing to suffer shame and pain rather than to disobey God. (Like Daniel and his friends did. Read Daniel 3.)

The Fear of God is:

• The result of loving Him — because He first loved us!
• Fearing Him — because He is constantly watching us,
• Expecting from Him alone, all our present and eternal rewards.

Since man’s ways are usually opposite to God’s, there will be a continuous struggle in us whether to honor God or man.

The fear of God is pretty evident in many instances by practicing a godly carefulness regarding being “In fashion and trendy “, having a slowness to be embarrassed before men, speaking that will not only compliment but will also warn (in a gracious and loving manner, Romans 10:18), having a quickness to defend God’s honor, and a quickness to admit your own mistakes.

Having a cautiousness to accept lavish and public compliments, and having a quickness to give the glory to God in a humble manner.

Someone Who Fears God is Stable, Predictable and Trustworthy

He or she will simply obey God’s Word and will not change their mind because of man’s faces or “undertones of condescension.”

Friends!

We must stop just “Acting” spiritual!

We must “Be” spiritual.

We must stop concentrating on the outside and start concentrating on the inside.

Management experts say that there is no formula for success but God says:

“Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, so that you may flourish in all that you do,” Deuteronomy 29:9.

In the midst of these strains and attempts to distract comes a clear undeniable “Divine Tension” that pulls and stretches the heart of the humbled believer.

It calls simply, firmly, and does not lack a depth of confidence and direction.

This “Presence” causes a clash with all that seems to be “the way of man” and will not relent.

The Earth is in Turmoil!

It doesn’t take much to understand that the earth is in upheaval, rivalry, and chaos wherever we look.

There is a tangible and penetrating “tension” in the events we are seeing unfold every day.

Parallel to this explosion of pure evil and lulling to sleep of many, there is a Divine Course being laid out for those who have come to the end of themselves.

Eternity is in the Sights of Those Looking to a Kingdom Yet Unseen!

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have been preparing a Bride.

This is done only through the shaping tools of heavenly choice.

The chisel and hammer have been at times brutal and unflinching, yet when the soft hand of The Almighty begins to apply the oil of polishing,

He does it with His own hand as well.

He makes it beautiful in His own timing, even though the “Divine Tension” seems as if it might cause us to “snap” under the pressure of His hand, smoothing away the roughness of our thoughts and soul’s intentions.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11.

Hearing, Refining, and Heeding

These three words can be hard to listen to at times.

The King of all Glory is training those who have been thrust on the altar of fire to hear from Him as one who strains to catch the song of a bird in distant meadow.

It takes the “spiritual ear” and training it to identify even the slightest note or sound, however distant, and to learn to silence the sounds and voices of distraction until the “honing in” on the sound, the glorious sound of peace, finally directs and sustains us with all that we hear.

And then, having drunk deeply of the Voice of the Beloved and Divine Counselor, quickly, without the mental filing way of instructions, or the weighing of how much it might cost, we move and heed His mapping out of plans for this appointed time.

Isaiah speaks so clearly about those who desire to honor God fully and who see the world in need of the telling of the good and beautiful truth of the sacrifice that Jesus was for their redemption.

As I read this passage in closing, I would encourage you to speak it as if it was your very own words.

Speak them before The LORD and own them, take them to heart and allow him to use you more beautifully and purposefully in the days ahead, more than ever before.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,Because The LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of The LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness Instead of mourning, and a garment of praise Instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of The LORD for the display of his splendor.” Isaiah 61:1-3.

Wow! These are such beautiful words!

I just love reading The Word of God and speaking them out loud.

Speaking these Words to remind myself that this is the voice of the ONE who created me, the voice of the Savior who died for me, and the power of the comforter, The Holy Spirit, the advocate.

The One who comes alongside to help!

These are the Beloved Ones, and the ones who have loved me and they function in a unit of such glorified deity that I stand in awe that they acknowledge that I am loved and wanted and valuable enough that a life was spilled and spent, that I might have eternity!

I thank you for listening today and I ask The Holy Spirit to speak these words clearly to you and that you would ponder and let them move deeply within you in these days where there is just so much noise and so many good and “not so good” podcasts to listen to.

Sometimes you just feel like you get hooked on listening to certain threads or certain themes, and I have found myself needing to pull back a little bit and just be quiet, just be still!

You know friends, the greatest gift to a believer is peace in the presence of God, and then rest comes from that.

I encourage you to maybe share this podcast with someone else who needs to hear it!

 

Good bye for now!
In His Shadow,
~ Mary Lindow ^©

Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed as long as complete message and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You!
” THE MESSENGER ” ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
Global Prayer Rooms

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Mary Lindow has a passion for encouraging others – all generations, careers or vocations to live expressing excellence through personal integrity, healthy accountability, and wise management of talents and skills. She’s a sought after keynote, inspirational, humorous speaker and teacher across the USA and internationally in Ministers & Spiritual leaders Conferences, and training seminars for various organizations.

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