1 Kings 19:1-4 ( NKJV )
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”
Yesterday we began to look at how Elijah was intimidated by Jezebel into abdicating his authority. He had just won a powerful victory. He had authority in the nation of Israel. The people were behind him, the King was cooperating with him and he was functioning according to the Word of God. Why, when he was in such a position of strength, did he flee from this wicked queen? It got so bad that he could not see any success in what he had done. He prayed to die because he believed he was a failure. The simple reason is that he allowed himself to believe threats that were empty.
Intimidation is a spirit. People who are adept at using this power truly believe what they are saying. They say it convincingly and it is energized by the devil. Nonetheless, intimidation is actually empty. Jezebel at that moment had no power. However when Elijah gave into the intimidating spirit he gave her power in his life. We must realize that we have authority as believers. When intimidation tries to open the door of fear in our lives we must be ready to close it by faith.
What intimidates you today? Often it is a person who’s personality it stronger than our own. Sometimes it is the nature and severity of our situation. We cannot imagine how we could ever obtain victory against such odds. At other times it may be our past failures that cause us to back down to intimidation. Our sin is another intimidating element. Whatever the intimidator the answer is the same. We must stand on the word of God.
When we stand firm on the promises of God there is nothing that can intimidate us. Listen to the apostle Paul.
Romans 8:31 ( NKJV )
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Intimidation works by someone or something screaming in our ears, “This will never work.” or “God will not come through this time.” It reminds us of our failures and our lack. We must counter this by filling our minds and our mouths with statements from the Word. Later in the chapter Paul lists all the things that came against him. It is not a list any of us would want but he declared in the midst of all these things that he was more than a conqueror. He refused to allow the devil, the circumstances or even his own past as a persecutor of the Gospel to intimidate him.
God is for you. Find a promise in the word and stand on it. counter the intimidator with the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. If it is sin that is intimidating you, repent of it. Once it is repented of the Word tells you it is forgiven and it has no more power against you. If it is circumstances go to the Bible and find a promise that speaks to the circumstance. Then when the intimidating voice comes, boldly declare the truth of the promise. If it is a person, the verse above should pretty much cover that intimidation.
Remember the threat of the intimidator is always empty compared to the Word of God. Read the Word. Meditate in the Word and finally declare the Word. You will find that the intimidator cannot stand in the face of the word of God. Like any bully he will back down. It may take some time. You may have to fight a little, but in the end you will win if you don’t give up.
Read this one more verse;
James 4:7 ( NKJV )
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
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