There Are Giants In Them Hills!
Intimidation is a killer. It seeks to devour you. It seeks to destroy your dreams. It seeks to steal your faith. It seeks to kill your joy. Intimidation is a devourer!
Before the people of Israel went into the land God promised them, they sent out 12 spies to check the land out (Numbers 13:1-33). They were to give a full report, about what the land was like, whether the people living in it were strong or weak, was the land productive or not.
When the spies returned, only two gave a good report of the land, Caleb and Joshua. The other 10 gave a very negative report. One of the most damaging reports they gave was "the land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people we saw living in it were men of great size. There also we saw the Nephilim...; and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their site (vv32-33).
The 10 spies were intimidated. They were intimidated by the perceived size and strength of the people who lived in the land. I say "perceived" because God was behind them to lead them. They had God's power to fight. Yet, those 10 spies perceived those "giants" as more powerful than what God could do. As a result, those 10 spies and a whole generation never entered into the land God promised them. They were intimidated by perceived giants.
God had promised them that land. They had seen God's power from the time they were in Egypt to the time the spies were sent. They knew of God's promise, that He was with them and would lead them into the land. Yet, they were intimidated. As a result, fear entered into the hearts of the Israelites. They didn't fulfill their destiny at that time and a whole generation of Israelites died in the desert.
Intimidation is destructive. It beats down and if you aren't careful, eventually kills. Intimidation can keep you from your God given destiny. Intimidation can keep you from affecting many lives. Intimidation can kill lives, relationships, businesses and nations.
The Israelites had authority to take the land of Canaan. They were given that authority by God. Yet, they gave up their authority to give in to the intimidating sight of perceived giants.
Adam and Eve held a very high position of authority. God said "Let us make man in Our image, according to our likeness
and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over all cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth "(Gen. 1:26). Adam and Eve had all authority over all creation. Yet, they gave up their authority to Satan (Genesis, chapter 3).
We know this because when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. The devil said to him "I will give you all this domain and its' glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish" (Luke 4:5-6).
Yet, later we see where Jesus said "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth" Mt. 28:18). That same authority has been given to citizens of the Kingdom of God as Jesus also said that whatever you and I ask for in His name, we will receive (John 14:13).
Before the people of Israel went into the land God promised them, they sent out 12 spies to check the land out (Numbers 13:1-33). They were to give a full report, about what the land was like, whether the people living in it were strong or weak, was the land productive or not.
When the spies returned, only two gave a good report of the land, Caleb and Joshua. The other 10 gave a very negative report. One of the most damaging reports they gave was "the land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people we saw living in it were men of great size. There also we saw the Nephilim...; and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their site (vv32-33).
The 10 spies were intimidated. They were intimidated by the perceived size and strength of the people who lived in the land. I say "perceived" because God was behind them to lead them. They had God's power to fight. Yet, those 10 spies perceived those "giants" as more powerful than what God could do. As a result, those 10 spies and a whole generation never entered into the land God promised them. They were intimidated by perceived giants.
God had promised them that land. They had seen God's power from the time they were in Egypt to the time the spies were sent. They knew of God's promise, that He was with them and would lead them into the land. Yet, they were intimidated. As a result, fear entered into the hearts of the Israelites. They didn't fulfill their destiny at that time and a whole generation of Israelites died in the desert.
Intimidation is destructive. It beats down and if you aren't careful, eventually kills. Intimidation can keep you from your God given destiny. Intimidation can keep you from affecting many lives. Intimidation can kill lives, relationships, businesses and nations.
The Israelites had authority to take the land of Canaan. They were given that authority by God. Yet, they gave up their authority to give in to the intimidating sight of perceived giants.
Adam and Eve held a very high position of authority. God said "Let us make man in Our image, according to our likeness
and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over all cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth "(Gen. 1:26). Adam and Eve had all authority over all creation. Yet, they gave up their authority to Satan (Genesis, chapter 3).
We know this because when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. The devil said to him "I will give you all this domain and its' glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish" (Luke 4:5-6).
Yet, later we see where Jesus said "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth" Mt. 28:18). That same authority has been given to citizens of the Kingdom of God as Jesus also said that whatever you and I ask for in His name, we will receive (John 14:13).
atan uses intimidation in order to raise up fear in us, so that he may regain the authority Jesus took from him. One thing you and I need to remember. If you don't walk or live in your authority God gave you, someone or something will take it from you and use it against you. This is what happened at the fall. Adam and Eve had authority over all the earth and all living things. Yet, they yielded their authority to the serpent (Satan), in order to partake of the fruit. Satan has been using the authority he gained over the human race and the world's systems and structures ever since, through fear, manipulation and threats. The whole world and it's systems are intimidated at the feet of the evil one.
What are some of the symptoms of intimidation?
1. Confusion
2. Discouragement
3. Frustration
4. Hopelessness
5. Fear
Whenever you are experiencing one of these symptoms, you can rest assured behind that symptom is intimidation. Each one of those symptoms can paralyze you. Each one of those symptoms can crush you. Each one of those symptoms can defeat you.
In my roller coaster experience, and with my move to another state, each one of those symptoms raised its' ugly head. I was intimidated. I failed with the roller coaster, Millenium Force. But, I stood in my authority in making the move God led me to make to another state.
The goal of intimidation is to cause you to lose perspective. This is what happened with the 10 spies. God had empowered them to take the land. But, the 10 spies lost perspective. They ceased to look at themselves as children of God who were empowered by God to take the land. So, instead of seeing people they knew they would defeat, they saw themselves as small and powerless. Intimidation caused them to lose perspective.
The stronger the intimidation, the greater is the discouragement and hopelessness. This is why it's very important to have a heavenly focus and remember the position of authority you have as a citizen of the Kingdom of God.
Then most sadly, an intimidated person will give in and give honor to that which they are intimidated by. I gave in to the size of the Millenium Force roller coaster. I gave more honor to that giant piece of metal than I did the experience of a terrific ride with my daughter.
Let's bring it close to home. Say God has a calling on your life, or something He has for you to do. You listen to negative decrees against you, look back at your past and think you don't have what it takes to fulfill God's plan for you. As a result you give in to the intimidation resulting in fear and you give honor to the perception you don't have what it takes as opposed to giving honor to God.
Is this a hard saying? Yes it is. But, that is the malignant, destructive force of intimidation.
Stand in your God given authority and move from fear to faith.
What are some of the symptoms of intimidation?
1. Confusion
2. Discouragement
3. Frustration
4. Hopelessness
5. Fear
Whenever you are experiencing one of these symptoms, you can rest assured behind that symptom is intimidation. Each one of those symptoms can paralyze you. Each one of those symptoms can crush you. Each one of those symptoms can defeat you.
In my roller coaster experience, and with my move to another state, each one of those symptoms raised its' ugly head. I was intimidated. I failed with the roller coaster, Millenium Force. But, I stood in my authority in making the move God led me to make to another state.
The goal of intimidation is to cause you to lose perspective. This is what happened with the 10 spies. God had empowered them to take the land. But, the 10 spies lost perspective. They ceased to look at themselves as children of God who were empowered by God to take the land. So, instead of seeing people they knew they would defeat, they saw themselves as small and powerless. Intimidation caused them to lose perspective.
The stronger the intimidation, the greater is the discouragement and hopelessness. This is why it's very important to have a heavenly focus and remember the position of authority you have as a citizen of the Kingdom of God.
Then most sadly, an intimidated person will give in and give honor to that which they are intimidated by. I gave in to the size of the Millenium Force roller coaster. I gave more honor to that giant piece of metal than I did the experience of a terrific ride with my daughter.
Let's bring it close to home. Say God has a calling on your life, or something He has for you to do. You listen to negative decrees against you, look back at your past and think you don't have what it takes to fulfill God's plan for you. As a result you give in to the intimidation resulting in fear and you give honor to the perception you don't have what it takes as opposed to giving honor to God.
Is this a hard saying? Yes it is. But, that is the malignant, destructive force of intimidation.
Stand in your God given authority and move from fear to faith.
