Don't Let Intimidation Intimidate You - Part 2

Introduction

When it comes to experiencing intimidation – I am an expert

People find it hard to believe that I was shy and easily intimidated

• Believe it – every story was TRUE

Examples:

• School – shy (never speak up)
• School Dentist – Ran home
• Gymnastics – never got out the car
• Chest clinic – car broke down
• Friends house – poohed my pants

A lot of people were with me UNTIL the POO story

• Thanks for the new nick names
• Top 5 Nick names (some I cant repeat) no1 “crapper”

Got another poo story – nothing to do with intimidation but what I ate

Intimidation affects us all

Intimidation is something that we have to continually deal with

• E.g.: Kath – shopping this week

Last week – more foundational

• Gods original plan for man – to rule and reign
• Man forfeited his authority – in garden of Eden
• Jesus came and regained lost authority
  • Through Jesus mankind to rule and reign again
  • Our position in Christ – seated with HIM
  • Gifts and authority to do a job
  • E.g. gun and a badge – equipment and the right to use it
  • Heaven full of angels and seraphs – we are His Deputy Seraphs

Paul addressed this issue when writing to Timothy

• Young and inexperienced
• Very timid

Any ‘Timid Timothys’ out there tonight?

2Ti 1:1-7 NIV Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, (2) To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (3) I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. (4) Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. (5) I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. (6) For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (7) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Paul is reminding Timothy of 2 things

1. You have a genuine faith

• Our faith must first be genuine

2. You have a gift – Use it

• Therefore (because you have this genuine faith) stir up the gift

All have a gift

• Often never venture out into Gods giftings – too afraid
• Fear stops us using our gifts

Intimidation paralyses you

Goal of intimidation is to get you to back off

• Stop you doing what God has called you to do
• E.g. Parable of the talents

Mat 25:24-29 NIV "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. (25) So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' (26) "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? (27) Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. (28) "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. (29) For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

• I was AFRAID
• E.g. Gymnastics – I backed off and missed out

Causes us to compromise what we know to be right

• Eg. Eli and his 2 sons
• He knew what they were doing but he refused to confront them
• An intimidated person honours what he fears more than God
• He submits to what intimidates him
• Fathers intimidated by their own children

Shepherd not only feeds but protects the sheep

If you don’t feed them they will starve, but if you don’t protect them they will be devoured

Blessed are the peace makers – not peace keepers

Mat 5:9 NIV Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

• Peace keepers avoid confrontation at all costs
• Avoid confrontation – perceiving that it is not love or Christian character
• We think if you ignore it – it will go away

Intimidation is a spirit

1. It is a Spirit

• Not a person, organization
• E.g. parable of talents
• Problem was not the boss (other 2 doubled their money)
• It was his problem not his bosses

2. It is not from God

Just because God didn’t give you a spirit of fear doesn't mean that you don’t have one

Spiritual resistance requires spiritual assistance

Question:

Why do people who are physically or mentally strong struggle with intimidation (often from people who are weaker in body and mind?)

Answer:

Fighting spiritual weaknesses not natural ones

Positive thinking alone wont help you overcome intimidation

• Deal with the root not just the fruit – fruit grows back
• Often only deal with the effect of fear not its origin

Gal 3:1 NIV You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes

Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.

Have to deal with the controlling spirits

• E.g. Elijah – one man against a nation (won a great battle)

Intimidated by just one woman – Jezebel

• Same day he won a great battle he ran for his life

It was the best day of his life and his worse day

He ran away form the confrontation that earlier he ran into

The work God had begun through Elijah could not be completed until Jezebel had been confronted

Elijah never confronted Jezebel

• King Jehu had to
• Note: Ahab was the leader by title but Jezebel was the real leader

2Ki 9:22 NIV When Joram saw Jehu he asked, "Have you come in peace, Jehu?" "How can there be peace," Jehu replied, "as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?"

Remember: Our battle is not against flesh and blood

Eph 6:10-13 NIV Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (11) Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. (12) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (13) Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Intimidation is a scheme of the devil

• Uses it to great effect
• Let's not be unaware of his schemes (2 Cor.2:11)

My constant prayer:

• Wisdom – to know what to do and when to do it
• Courage – to hold onto my convictions
• Strength – to walk it out