ARE WE FEEDING THE LIONS? INTIMIDATION!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfinggers@aol.com (This is several part series.)
INTIMIDATION BECOMES A SATANIC STRONGER HOLD IN BELIEVERS.
There are two Biblical places for our spiritual enemy: 1. Under your feet… When problems are over your head they are under the feet of Jesus. 2. Behind us, way behind us. But we tend to allow doubt, fear, anger, pain, bitterness, worry, anxiety and not knowing the power of God’s word. Seems we PROMOTE OUR ENEMY TO GO IN FRONT OF US. Our enemy will blaze a trail straight to HELL. INTIMIDATION SEEMS TO HOLD US BACK FROM BECOMING WHAT GOD WANTS US TO BE.
1 Peter 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1 Peter 3:14 (NASB) But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,
OUR MEAN SPIRITUAL ENEMY WILL PARALYZE GOD’S PEOPLE… LIKE A STUN GUN FEAR AND INTIMIDATION.
Fear becomes one of his greatest tools in his tool box… LIONS LEARN HOW INTIMIDATING THEIR LOUD ROAR CAN BE. The pray can be escaping and the loud roar paralyzes and we are hindered by his noise.
FEAR AND WORRY BREEDS SPIRITUAL INTIMIDATION!
ROBERT J. MORGAN tells of a lesson in the USA WEEKEND from August 22-24, 1997. The article was entitled
“FEAR: WHAT ARE AMERICANS AFRAID OF TODAY?”
54% ARE AFRAID OR VERY AFRAID: OF BEING IN A CAR CRASH.
53% ARE AFRAID OR VERY AFRAID: OF HAVING CANCER.
50% ARE AFRAID OR VERY AFRAID: OF INADEQUATE SOCIAL SERCURITY.
49% ARE AFRAID OR VERY AFRAID: OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY FOR RETIREMENT.
36% ARE AFRAID OR VERY AFRAID: OF FOOD POISONING.
35% ARE AFRAID OR VERY AFRAID: OF GETTING ALZHEIMERS
34% ARE AFRAID OR VERY AFRAID: OF PESTICIDES ON FOOD.
33% ARE AFRAID OR VERY AFRAID: OF BEING OF VICTIM OF CRIME.
32% ARE AFRAID OR VERY AFRAID: OF BEING UN-ABLE TO PAY CURRENT DEBTS.
30% ARE AFRAID OR VERY AFRAID: OF BEING EXPOSED TO GERMS/VIRUSES.
28% ARE AFRAID OR VERY AFRAID: OF GETTING AIDS.
25% ARE AFRAID OR VERY AFRAID: OF NAAYURUAL DISASTERS.
9 OUT OF 10 SAY THE WORLD WAS A SAFER PLACE WHEN THEY WERE GROWING UP THAN NOW.
4 OUT OF 10 SAY THEY WOULD BE AFRAID TO WALK A ½ MILE FROM THEIR HOUSE AT NIGHT.
1 OUT OF 4 LADIES SAY THEY HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED BY SOMEONE IN THE LAST YEAR.
1 OUT OF 5 FEAR BEING CAUGHT IN A SHOOTING/BOMBING IN A PUBLIC PLACE.
THE TOOL BOX OF THE ENEMY IS OLD, BUT THE OLD TOOLS ARE STILL VERY EFFECTIVE TO HINDER BELIEVERS.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
INTIMIDATION is a tool in our enemy’s tool box. Intimidation is the use of fear, worry… that tries to make you feel like junk, second best, timid and afraid.
Intimidate: to make fearful, timid by deterring progress by threats of harm. PANIC enlarges.
IN THE BIBLE THE LION IS A TYPE AND FIGURATIVE to represent INTIMIDATION.
THE LION REPRESENTS EXTREME DIFFICULTIES AND DANGER, fear and intimidation.
The lion speaks to difficulty, troubles, danger. The lion is the winner? Lions are known to tear prey to pieces…
INTIMIDATION: fierce, devouring, intimidation. The lion can be a type of Satan, fear, fright, angry, destructive, enemy to bring harm, strong, bold. The lion is an enemy of believers and God’s plan, lion is strong- sharp teeth-cruel paws and fearless, frightening, worry.
The lion is a type of power, daring, flesh eating, secretly lying in wait? The lion is the enemy of flocks and is out to destroy.
2 Timothy 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
NEHEMIAH WAS CALLED OF GOD TO RE-BUILD THE WALLS THAT TIME AND CARELESSNESS HAD BROKEN DOWN AROUND JERUSALEM. NEHEMIAH HAD OPPOSITION THAT TRIED TO INTIMATE HIS MINISTRY.
Nehemiah 6:9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
Nehemiah had some friends that warned him about his enemy’s death plot.
Nehemiah 6:10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.
Nehemiah 6:13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
NEHEMIAH refused to allow fear and intimidation to hinder his work. He FINISHED AND COMPLETED HIS GOD TASK BECAUSE HE REFUSE TO ALLOW FEAR AND INTIMIDATION TO DICTATE TO HIS HEART. Nehemiah had to have faith and confidence in the PLAN OF GOD.
TWO KINDS OF LIONS IN THE BIBLE: REAL AND IMAGINARY!
NEVER GIVE UP WHEN FACING THE SPIRITUAL LIONS. NEVER ALLOW THE FEAR OF LIONS TO DOMINATE GOD’S PLAN. Let God arise and destroy the lions.
Proverbs 22:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Understand the literary device and power of repetition
Proverbs 26:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
LIONS CAN BECOME FRIVOLOUS EXCUSES TO APPEASE THE HUMAN MIND… STUPIDITY AND ABSURD EXCUSES CAN BECOME FAKE LIONS. --- I AM AFRAID THERE IS A LION OUT THERE I BETTER NOT ENDANGER MYSELF AND GO TO WORK… I JUST MIGHT GET KILLED. Lions do not hide in the streets of a major city?
THE ENEMY HAD A PLAN TO INTIMIDATE THE MAN OF GOD. THE LION WAS A HIDDEN TRAP TO KILL SAMSON AND HINDER THE WORK OF GOD. THE LION IS AGAINST SAMSON.
Judges 14:5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. 6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.
BECAUSE SAMSON REFUSED TO BE INTIMIDATED BY THE LION, SAMSON FOUND WHAT MEANT TO HARM HIM BECAME A SOURCE OF LIFE. NEVER RUN FROM THE LION, THIS IS A TEST!
Judges 14:8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. 9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.
LEARN THE LESSON HOW GOD CAN USE THE LION TO BRING CORRECTION. GOD SPOKE TO THE YOUNG PREACHER TO GO WARN THE KING!
There was a man of God sent on a mission to the King. God gave this young very clear directions: CARRY THIS MESSAGE TO THE KING, THEN RUN HOME.
1 Kings 13:9 For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.
The young preacher was not submitted and he disobeyed the clear directive of God. The young prophet lingered around several days. He knew better. He refused the King, he would not eat or drink for half of the Kingdom. But the young man disobeys GOD”S WORD and lingers around several days.
GOD USED A LION TO DISCILPINE THE YOUNG MAN. The story is different, the lion killed the preacher, but the lion never killed the donkey, and when it was done the lion never ate or bothered the body. The lion just stood there as a testimony.
1 Kings 13:24 And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.
(One could also show about how God used the Lions among the settlers in Samaria 2 Kings 17:25)
THERE WAS A MIGHTY MAN OF GOD THAT WAS A PRAYER WARRIOR. HIS FRIENDS TRIED TO INNTIMIDATE HIS PRAYER LIFE. HE REFUSED TO LISTEN TO THEIR MANIPULATION AND INTIMIDATION…
Daniel learned to trust the plan of God through all the years in captivity. Seems even the King had faith in God. Daniel trusted the God that delivers.
Daniel 6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
Daniel slept all night. The King could not sleep. Early the next day, the King ran to check of Daniel. The lions of manipulation and intimidation had no power.
Daniel 6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
Daniel had not HURT FROM THE LIONS or his MEAN FRIENDS.
Daniel 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
GOD ALLOWED THE LIONS TO BRING THE JUDGMENT ON THE ENEMIES PLAN.
Daniel 6:24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
THE STRONGHOLDS OF INTIMIDATION AND FEAR WILL STRENTGHEN THEMSELVES WITH OUR SPOKEN WORDS.
DON’T GIVE POWER TO THE CONTRARY WINDS OF FEAR AND INTIMIDATION? NOT ONLY BEWARE OF THE WORDS YOU SPEAK BUT ALSO BEWARE OF THE WORDS WE LISTEN TO… WORDS HAVE POWER, POWER OF DEATH OR LIFE.
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
WE GET OFFENDED AND ALLOW FEAR TO THRIVE. THEN TALK AND MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLE HILL. THEN WE ASSINATE others with words of intimidation and fear. THE LION ROARS. The lion laughs as we talk negative and repeat gossip. Do you think it lifts you up to knock others down? We often crucify people and crank up divison for intimidation. A divided house cannot stand.
What can I do to KILL THE LION OF INTIMIDATION? Quit listening to the LION’S ROAR. Refuse to be OFFENDED. Taking offense is a choice. Talk to God, God voice will overcome. When you find it hard to pray, pray hard. Be quick to forgive, give no ground to fear.
CONCLUSION: RECEIVE THE CURE:
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
THERE IS BEAUTY AND SAFETY IN SUBMISSION TO THE PLAN OF GOD
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
SEE THE CONCLUSION: INTIMIDATION IS ONE OF THE ENEMY’S BEST TOOLS. Intimidation uses fear, worry, negativity, to trap God’s people and doom them. Fear, why fear? Fear and intimidation BREEDS FEAR and INTIMIDATION! SLAY THE LION? OR KEEP FEEDING THE LIONS?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
