Manipulation And Control…Meet Grace!

I was ministering in our local fellowship. Our team was there. When I got done, a man stormed out of the service. He was yelling “he did not even mention my blog”. I was dumbfounded. He pushed my wife over into a row of chairs. I was far enough from him that I could not get to him. One of my friends headed out to speak to him. I saw them go out the door together. I knew it would be okay. He had been under lots of pressure lately, so I was not too worried about it. I walked towards my wife and the others who had been pushed aside. Seeing they were all okay, I headed outside.

The church building in the natural is on a level area, but as I walked out the door I realized we were on the top of a hillside. One of the young women in our church began to enter into her “school bus”. (She is a student and not a bus driver!) I talked to her for a moment and then headed over to a large bus more like a tour bus. Someone had parked it on the hillside.. All of a sudden one the men who had been like a spiritual dad to me appeared in the window. He began to ask me all sorts of questions. I was confused as to why he was there. (In this dream I was reminded of a large yellow home he had in another dream. The house was large and looked as though it was on a college campus. I remembered sitting with his son and the large fire in the fireplace roaring. In that dream, he was giving me the home and the property.) One question stood out. “How did you get here?” I remember thinking “what an unusual question.” As I turned on the bus because it had to be moved, he continued his conversation. I was standing on the brake and I realized that it was not holding. I stood as hard as I could. The bus rolled towards a row of cars. Finally I was able to get it into gear and it began to move forward.

I awoke from that dream thinking so many things. Vehicles, people, conversations. What did it all mean?

I gave this dream a few days to process out. (One thing about dream interpretation I have discovered is it is not always an instant answer, nor is your understanding of today always complete.)

I have come to the following conclusions.

  • The man who ran out was offended because “his hearing” of God was not being recognized. Not even what he was hearing but the method and manner in which he processed what the Lord is saying. The fact that friend went to talk to him was good in the sense that not all messages and answers are articulated by a single man but often through the corporate body working together. (Jesus gave the fivefold to the church for seeing them mature and be made whole.)
  • Too often our inability to resolve wounds leaves us wide open to hurt others. Sitting in your stuff is just as detrimental to others as it is to you. (Beloved I desire that you may prosper even as your soul prospers.)
  • The church when operating properly can be seen from afar. (Do not cover your light.)
  • The young people as well as the older have the ability to carry the ministry of the church as seen by the buses. (Paul and Timothy.)
  • Even hurtful people in your life can not stop you from the call of God. (Joseph is a good example.)
  • Even when you have gone backwards the call is a forward call and can not be denied by man.

Your leadership life will change and change dramatically when you realize…

  • You are responsible for you and your personal changes.
  • You are not responsible for the change in others. You are responsible for the message.
  • You are required to be compassionate towards others even when it seems as though they are wrong.
  • You can not allow hurt people to hurt people.
  • You must recognize and acknowledge others and their gifting.
  • You must recognize the value of others even when they become greater than you.
  • You must go on even when situations, circumstances and even people work to manipulate or control you.
  • You must establish the kingdom of God.
  • Don’t stop believing.

 

I had another dream last night. In that dream friends had prepared a meal. As I ate it I realized it had little worms. I thought “yay”. I left the table and the plate with a few small worms squirming on the plate. (Even in the dream I thought “no deadly thing can harm me”.) I awoke with a sense of “trepidation” as if I had really been there or someone was in the house.

I look at the first dream and I think over all it is about carrying out what you are called to do. The second dream underscores it in the fact that you can not allow the circumstances of the day to undermine you or what you are being called to do. Our focus has to be on the people and the purpose. One bad “meal”ought not change your friendships.

Not everything is about “you” but about reaching others who do not know the name or the person of Jesus.

Lately I have witnessed and attack against children and the purpose of their lives. I have seen manipulation and control increase to “overcome” the message of grace. But at the end of the day we are called to work in an opposite spirit-in this case freedom and liberty.

The “call to arms” is for each and every person to not just be productive but to participate in the greatest move of God man has ever seen!

Written by Lee Johndrow

Lee Johndrow

Lee is the Senior Leader of Abundant Grace Fellowship Church in Keene, NH

He is the father of five wonderful children. Married for over 26 years to his wife Tina. Loving life with family, friends, faith, fun and food!


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