The Spirit of Intimidation!

Elijah, one of God's most boldest, uncompromising, and anointed prophets, confronted four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal at the showdown on Mt. Carmel. The representatives of the false god were soundly embarrassed, defeated and executed. Elijah's boldness of faith and anointing was spectacular - until the wicked queen, Jezebel, intimidated him with threatening words. Whereupon, the brave prophet "ran for his life...and prayed that he might die" I Kings.19:3,4. This act of cowardice resulted in his loss of position as God's spokesman. His mantle of authority was transferred to Elisha.

The devil is a tempter, deceiver, accuser and intimidator. These are the tactics that Satan uses to keep us from being victorious Christians and fulfilling our divine calling. Intimidation is a companion of fear. Paul reminded young Timothy, "God has not given us a spirit of fear" II Timothy 1:7. Fear is a spirit but not of God! Fear (Greek: delia) denotes cowardice and timidity. The devil will do everything he can to knock us out of the battle, and intimidation is one of his chief weapons. Timothy was in danger of being intimidated by potential persecution, for Paul was already imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. So, Paul went on to say, "Do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me the prisoner" verse 8.

Satan often works through other people to intimidate us. When Nehemiah was rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, the devil used Sanballat and Tobiah to mock and intimidate the Jews. Tobiah snarled, "Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall" Nehemiah 4:3. But Nehemiah could not be intimidated. He encouraged the people to build and to battle. They worked with a weapon in one hand, and the wall was finished, for "the joy of the Lord was their strength" Nehemiah 8:10.
When Peter and John healed a lame man by the power of the resurrected Christ, they were confronted by the Sanhedrian, the supreme council of the Jews. When this religious hierarchy saw the boldness of Peter and John they realized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13). Though forbidden to "speak to no man in this name", the disciples replied, "We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" Acts 4:20. These disciples were so confident of their call and commission in Christ they could not be intimidated. Oh, Lord, let this be true of us as well! In Revelation 21:8, we are told of those who will have their part in the lake of fire. The first mentioned are "the fearful", the cowardly and intimidated, along with the "unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars". Over against these losers are the overcomers: "He who overcomes, shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son" v7. The opposite of the spirit of fear is the spirit of the overcomer. To each of the seven churches to whom the message of Revelation was written, special promises are given to those who overcome. The word "overcome" is a military term that applies to victory through spiritual warfare. It denotes victory, supremacy or success. Christian soldier, let not family, friend or foe intimidate you from standing strong in deliverance and spiritual warfare. The battle is on for our nation, states, churches, families and our very lives. Some contend that this warfare is too dangerous and there will be backlash. Jesus says, "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing by any means shall hurt you" Luke 10:19. We will either overcome or be overcome, "For by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage" 2 Peter 2:19. Therefore, be bold, for the Lord your God is with you! *********************************THE SPIRIT OF INTIMIDATION IS AN UGLY SPIRIT THAT RUTHLESSLY ATTACKS THE LEADERS, THE GENERALS IN GOD'S ARMY! SATAN COMES TO ATTACK JUST BEFORE ONE IS TO BE ELEVATED TO THE NEXT LEVEL. SATAN COMES AS THE ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN AS IN REVELATION, TO THROW US OFF TRACK, TO GET US WORN DOWN, TO TAKE AWAY OUR CONFIDENCE, SO WE CAN'T EVEN FUNCTION, EVEN PREPARE FOR THE COMING PROMOTION UP AHEAD BECAUSE WE ARE TOO TIRED AND WORN OUT! YOU WILL ALWAYS KNOW THAT IF YOU ARE BEING ATTACKED BY THIS WICKED SPIRIT, GOD'S ABOUT TO MOVE YOU FORWARD AND UPWARD TO YOUR NEXT DESTINATION IN YOUR JOURNEY, PROMOTE YOU TO A NEW LEVEL AND SATAN WILL TRY EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK TO THROW YOU OFF BALANCE!!! WHEN PEOPLE COME AND BEGIN HARRASSING YOU ABOUT YOUR CALLING, YOUR VISION, YOUR DREAM, WHO YOU ARE...... YOU WILL KNOW THE ENEMY IS AT WORK! WHEN THEY COME WITH A TEST, A LIST......TO TRIP YOU UP WITH DEMEANING AND INSULTING QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, JUST KNOW.....IT IS NOT OF GOD....IT IS THE SPIRIT OF JEZEBEL!!!! GOD WILL NOT INTERREGATE YOU AND HUMILIATE YOU WITH DEGRADING QUESTIONS! HE WILL BRING NO CONDEMNATION ONLY CORRECTION, IF NEED BE....THROUGH LOVE BECAUSE THEREFORE, THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION TO THEM THAT ARE IN CHRIST JESUS!! ROMANS 8:1... OTHERS ARE NOT GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TEST YOU, TO TRY YOU AND SEE IF YOU PASS THEIR TEST, SO THEY CAN ELEVATE YOU OR GIVE YOU THE FINAL FAILING GRADE! THAT IS GOD'S JOB AND HIS JOB ALONE! DON'T LET ANY JEALOUS JEZEBEL COME AND DISCRIMINATE AGAINST YOU WITH THEIR CONTROLLING, DOMINATING AND MANIPULATIVE SPIRITS! DON'T LET THE ENEMY TRIP YOU UP! I SUGGEST THAT YOU DO AS CHRIST DID........WALK AWAY....NOT IN ANGER BUT TO AVOID CONFLICT AND AGITATION....DO NOT ENTERTAIN THOSE DEMONS THAT ARE OUT TO DESTROY YOU, WALK AWAY!!!! THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO DO, STAY AND BE SCOLDED, STAY AND BE BULLIED AND PUSHED AROUND SO THAT THEY CAN BEAT YOU TO A PULP AND GET YOU TO GIVE UP! THEIR SOUL DESIRE IS TO DEFEAT YOU INTO THINKING YOU ARE OF NO VALUE, THAT YOU ARE WORTHLESS..... BUT STAY FOCUSED, STAY CALM, KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE GOAL, THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING!!!