Wednesday, 15th February 2023
Alex Buabeng-Korsah
TOPIC: LET NO ONE INTIMIDATE YOU
THEME SCRIPTURE: Philippians 1:28
PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:
- What is involved when it comes to being intimidated by someone?
- Why shouldn’t a Christian ever be intimidated?
You might have, at some point in life, been intimidated by someone. It looks like everyone has ever been intimidated before. Some people have the habit of intimidating others. Intimidating refers to the act of making another person feel timid or afraid. Some people like to intimidate others as a way of magnifying themselves. Thus, to feel big they must let others feel small or timid. Weak people have the tendency to be abusive and harsh. But gentleness is a strength. Therefore David said to God, “thy gentleness has made me great” (2 Sam 22:36).
Our theme scripture encourages us “not to be frightened in anything by your opponents” because their intimidation is a clear sign that they are heading towards destruction. However, for you, it is a sign that you are of God and you are heading in the right direction. Here Paul was referring to a type of intimidation where the enemies of our faith try to make us feel timid or afraid.
But the faith which we have received of God is not timid, Precious One. It is a life of dominion so how can we be intimidated or made timid?
Our opponents may use academic credentials, financial standing, social status, etc. to magnify themselves to want to intimidate us at the workplace, in the community or the school. It is because they don’t have God so their confidence is in natural things.
The other interesting truth is that the world or our opponents hate us because they have no idea who we really are. And it can be sad when a good Christian has no idea who he really is. The day that David was anointed with oil he became another man. When Goliath resorted to intimidation even King Saul was afraid (1 Sam 17:10-11). Goliath was using his size and his weapons as a means of intimidation (1 Sam 17:7). David told King Saul emphatically that he can take out this giant if only he would be given the opportunity (1 Sam 17:32).
Why was everybody afraid and not David? It is because he knew something the others didn’t know.
First, he knew that having been anointed, the weapons of his warfare are not manmade but mighty through God (2 Cor 10:4, 1 Sam 17:37). Secondly, he understood that if a man is uncircumcised, he is no match for the circumcised (1 Sam 17:36). Precious one, know from today going forward that you are the circumcision (Phil 3:3). Therefore let no uncircumcised person intimidate you. Know also this – greater is He who is in you than they that are in the world. When people feel uncomfortable with you it might probably be that their evil deeds may be made manifest by your light. So then, they resort to intimidation. When you encounter intimidation laugh and say to yourself “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to devour my flesh, they stumbled and fell (Psa 27:1-2). I see this one stumbling and falling flat”. Glory to God!
FURTHER READING – 1 Samuel 17:1-54
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:
- Have you intimidated other people before? If yes, are you willing to ask God for forgiveness and turn away from intimidating others?
CONFESSION
Precious Jesus, thank you for your ever-abiding presence in my life. I affirm today that I have received your gentleness through the Holy Spirit of God who dwells in me. From today I am living a life of dominion, far above the intimidations of men”. Hallelujah!
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Exodus 26; Psalm 79; Psalm 80; Mark 11
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