The Waterfall Effect of Control

Throughout history we can see the effects of control over people.  Governing bodies start out with noble intentions but human nature takes over and ultimately causes collapse.  Only when the governing body is led by Our Heavenly Father can the intent and direction of the “system” or group be sustained and maintained.  The group can be as small as two- husband and wife.  In the U.S., the divorce rate is high and among Christians it is regrettably at the same level as the overall.  In looking at the fundamental issue of failure, we only have to look as far as the pattern of King Saul in Scripture.  King Saul’s reign started because the people wanted a king, an intermediary between them and The Lord God Almighty.  They rejected the idea of “hearing” Our Heavenly Father but wanted another means to communicate with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.  They wanted to exist under the control of a man rather than under the command of Our Heavenly Father.  They acknowledged HIM but wanted to keep their distance, similar to the time in the wilderness where Moses took the position of intermediary.  The conferred their authority to man.

The cycle begins with some type of enticement of the eyes and promise of prosperity.  Saul’s physical qualities were appealing to the people and his father was a mighty man of power.  Often, man assumes that GOD must have favored a person with good looks, wealth, or intelligence thus entitling him to be the leader of the people.  Saul was such a man:

1 Samuel 9:2  And he had a son, whose name [was] Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and [there was] not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward [he was] higher than any of the people.

Saul’s father was named “Kish” whose name comes from a root word meaning “to lay bait or lure, lay a snare, lure”.  That should have been our first clue that Saul’s kingdom would not end well.

The next phase of the cycle is to seek out another man’s revelation as your basis of action rather than hearing the voice of Our Heavenly Father for yourself.  Men tend to be lazy and will attach themselves to those who appear to have a direct line to Our Heavenly Father.  During the last 100 years, there have been many ministries who have had loyal followings and attained great wealth because of this reality.  Massive church buildings have been erected only to see them become empty once the twilight of the ministry arrived.  Relying on another man’s ability to hear, subjects you to his weaknesses as well as his revelation.  Saul lacked revelation and did what any man would do, find someone that has it:

1Samuel 9:6 And he said unto him, Behold now, [there is] in this city a man of God, and [he is] an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.

Samuel was able to hear the voice of Our Heavenly Father and his fruit proved it.  The problem we encounter today is that we have selective memories when it comes to fruitfulness, especially of ourselves.  We judge ourselves by our intentions and everyone else by their actions.  The recent prosperity message in the church centered around the “give to get” mentality.  If you will give into my ministry, you will be financially blessed.  This was Saul’s orientation.  He felt he must pay for revelation:

1Samuel 9:7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, [if] we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and [there is] not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?

The third phase of the cycle will be temporary success.  This is viewed as a sign of an endorsement from the Throne of GOD.  Our Heavenly Father will use a man or a group to fulfill a need of the Kingdom even when their conscious intention or purpose may appear to oppose the Kingdom.  The idols of their heart ensnare them and ultimately bring forth death and destruction.  Saul was encouraged by “the Spirit of the Lord” coming upon him, he was empowered to fulfill this .  Everything seemed to be going well until Samuel revealed the reality of their direction:

1Samuel 10:19  And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, [Nay], but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.

This phase may last for days or centuries.  Our Heavenly Father will expose the hearts of the people during this time.  Repentance can change the course of events destined to take place.  Death and destruction are not necessary.  Our Heavenly Father’s longsuffering allows us to see the error of our ways and avoid the required judgment of continuing on the path of error.  The path of judgment may at time appear to be the path of blessing.  Our Heavenly Father will spare no expense to expose the idols in our hearts.  He will use our tendency to “assume” during the exposure process.  Soon gratitude is replaced with arrogance and those in charge will walk around “believing their own press”.  Their stated desire to serve is replaced with their entitlement to rule.

Samuel spoke to the people and reminded them of their sin for they were given a second chance.  They did repent.  Samuel then put them on notice:

1Samuel 12:15  But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as [it was] against your fathers.

However, King Saul usurped the covenant made:

1Sa 13:13-14
13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him [to be] captain over his people, because thou hast not kept [that] which the LORD commanded thee.

Phase four of the cycle produces the “Waterfall Effect”.  King Saul continues his “entitled” position and exploits the people by taking the best for himself at the expense of others.  This begins the process of removing the protective covering of Our Heavenly Father.  Saul’s controlling spirit tries to kill David, the anointed of Our Heavenly Father in order to protect the “status quo”.  Government will begin to look at anyone who challenges their current path as being an enemy of the state.  They will be placed in the “conspiracy” category.  Free speech is replaced with “politically acceptable” rhetoric.  I’m ok, you’re ok.  Sin is now redefined at alternative lifestyle.  The desire to hear Our Heavenly Father evaporates.  Government promises the world only to deliver bondage.  Government no longer lives by the foundation of its beginnings.  Previous vows, covenants, and commitments go by the wayside and slowly the government takes on a life of its own and rebels against its original mandate:

1Samuel 15:23 For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king.

1Samuel 16:23 And it came to pass, when the [evil] spirit from God was upon Saul…

Once the covering of Our Heavenly Father was lifted, Saul became plagued by an evil spirit.  How would you like to be subject to someone in charge with these problems?  Samuel anointed David to replace Saul which was like placing a target on his back.  Saul’s quest for power meant that he must eliminate anyone who would challenge his authority, the hallmark of a controlling spirit.  Saul is finally notified of who is adversary is:

1Samuel 28:16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

How would you like to be classified as an enemy of THE LORD?  Once the determination was made, Saul’s days were numbered.  His kingdom did not die a slow death but ended abruptly with his suicide.

When we listen to our egos rather than seek to hear Our Father’s voice, we begin our path to destruction.  The ego will produce a counterfeit reality that may last awhile, but the direction is assured.  Adam walked with GOD.  He didn’t need volumes of information from the internet nor did he need to communicate only by written or texted word.  He enjoyed a face to face relationship in the Garden.  Once the Word of GOD was judged to be wrong and man partook of the fruit, he was removed from this close relationship.  His goatlike ego had proved to be his downfall.  Jesus, the last Adam, restored our ability to fellowship with Our Heavenly Father.  We do not need another man to be our intermediary for Christ has satisfied that need.

From a macroeconomic view, this cycle plays out throughout history.  Rome enjoyed a multi-century empire only to fall within a short period of time.  Empires never die a slow death but are known in Scripture by the sub-title “Then suddenly”.  Each of us should do a fruit assessment to see if we are pursuing a counterfeit reality or seeking to walk with Our Heavenly Father.  Are we relying on a surrogate to do our “hearing”?  If so, make things right with Our Heavenly Father.  Pursuit of the alternative will only bring forth disappointment in your life.  The time is short.

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