Angela’s Thoughts

I know that there isn’t a review for chapters #7- #13.   (It hasn’t been that I didn’t read those chapters.  I plan on writing those a little later.)  I didn’t start the reviews until after I had already read half of the book.  There was so much I was gleaning from this book, that I didn’t want to write it on something I would stick away and forget about.  With my blog it is in my face every time I open it up (at least by categories), and it would be easy to search and find.

Right now, I want to write on chapter #14 because I read it last night, and it was profound to me at this time in my walk with God.  I am constantly reminded of how God knows our thoughts, and knows how we are feeling.  It seems like when we began to wonder… “Lord, what is going on?”  “Where is this heading?”  He shows us his faithfulness in some form.  Mine was reading this chapter at the moment it would most affect my relationship with Him.  I had sat this book down, because in all honesty, I felt bored with it.  But now, looking back, I know it was God.  He knew that it would mean more to me now, than it would have been then.  So, here we go!

Chapter #14 – Press On

The chapter begins with the story of Nehemiah.  How that he faced so many types of intimidation to try and keep him from building the walls.  Here are the thoughts that struck me (even at 2:30am).  God is so awesome!

• Often people will try and intimidate you by laughing at you or making light of what you are doing.  They might do this to your face or they might sow questions and mockery among others.
• Nehemiah said (when he had the mind of God), “The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build!…” Nehemiah 2:20 (Hallelujah!)
• When they realized they couldn’t stop Nehemiah, and the Israelites were progressing in their work, they became enraged.  No longer laughing, no longer funny.
• Anger is another weapon of Intimidation.  It will be wielded against you in order to stop or deter you.  Bevere mentions that he has watched many times as people backed away from what they knew was right or what they should do, in order to avoid the wrath of others.  They made special concessions in order to keep a false peace.

Pressure Without and WITHIN

Not only did Nehemiah have to face this attack from the ungodly outsiders, but he also had problems arising among his own men concerning the conditions they all faced.  Nehemiah’s men had become weary.  These internal problems made it even harder to resist the coercion and discouragement from their enemy.

Intimidation on Every Side

Bevere talks about going to a church that had recently lost a pastor, and was in search for a new one.  He was open to staying to minister until the church found a new pastor.  He would preach and God moved bringing backsliders and people that were hungry for God to a place where they would receive.  But some of the people on the church board weren’t happy with his style of preaching.  One in particular was trying to get him removed.  In the midst of all this… this is what Bever said…

- “Everything in me wanted to shake the dust off my feet and get my family out of the town before sundown.  If I had NOT known God had sent me, I would have left for the sake of my family.  However, my heart wouldn’t allow me to go for three reasons:  First, God had sent me, and I hadn’t heard Him tell me to leave.  Second, I did not want to abandon all those who had been touched.  And third, if you run once because of intimidation, it is easier to run the next time.

Stay Strong and Focused

The enemy wants to sidetrack us to make us ineffective in our labor.  Satan will not try this only once.  His is persistant.  We MUST be stronger in our resolve than he is in his.

• Too often we are drawn off course by trying to smooth things over with an enemy who is trying to intimidate us.
• Why are you allowing the lies of this person to affect what God has called you to do?
• Why try to reason with foolishness?
• Proverbs 26:4 “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him”
• Nehemiah said, “Should such a man a I flee?  And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life?  I will not go in!” They were trying to get his focus off building the wall.
• Nehemiah had the mind of the Lord; therefore, he was able to discern the pure and true from evil and deceptive.

Nehemiah 6:9, For they all were tyring to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will not be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.”  Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

• The purpose of intimidation: to weaken us so we cannot accomplish the will of God and will no longer resist the intimidator.  If we do not stand against this steadfastly, we will succumb.
• Our enemy the devil attempts many different avenues of intimidation when we invade his territory.  Again, he doesn’t try once and then give up.
• Nehemiah had tremendous resistance and opposition every step of the way.  But the people KNEW God has spoken, and they refused to back off.

The high calling is a life lived on earth according to heaven’s standards; it is see the kingdom of God manifested through an individual life.  People who live in the high calling control their surroundings.  By staying in their authority, they change the spiritual climate from oppression to liberty.

• Darkness cannot overpower light.
• If you are stronger in God than the unbeliever is in the devil, you will control the atmosphere.
• When You decide to live in the high call, you will face opposition and resistance.  “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:12)
• Today, we have many means to help us with our time (microwaves, fast food, etc.).  They should free us to pursue what is really important.  However, we often fail to choose what is important.
• The flow to the world’s system is set by the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2).  Heaven’s domain is in direct opposition to this flow.  To go heaven’s way means we will constantly face confrontation from this world’s system.
  
• !!!!  We need to press on!  What happens to a believer when they do not press on?  They still point in the direction of Christianity, but they are not flowing backward with the world.  They become religious.  They lose their power and are ineffective.  Matt 5:13 says… good for nothing!
• “Only be strong and very courageous, that you many observe to do according to all the law of Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. (Joshua 1:7)
• For what purpose (to be strong and very courageous)?  To win wars or be a great leader?  NO, for the purpose of keeping the Word of the Lord.  By this Joshua would be a great leader and win every war!
• We underestimate discouragement, and its power to prevent us from obtaining the high calling of God.  Discouragement is a killer.
• Cowardly, is mentioned in Rev 21:7-8, along with murderers and sexual immorality?  Yet we excuse ourselves, claiming that cowardly behavior is a weakness.

I know this post is long… but the profound meaning to me was undeniable!  God was speaking through this book into my life.  I accept what was said, I claim God as my Master and I will no longer serve another or give place to another!  And I will KNOW that what God has spoken to me is STILL His will for my life.  I will KNOW it, and be secure in it.  “O God, strengthen my hands!”

Chapter #6 – Paralyzed by Intimidation

• An intimidated person honors what he fears more than God
• Intimidation paralyzes us in the realm of the spirit.  It causes us to compromise what we know to be right.  It causes us to allow or tolerate what we, under other circumstances, wouldn’t stand for.
• According to Dake’s Bible, Eli was the fifteenth judge of Israel.  Not only was he judge, he also was the seventh high priest.  His sons, Hophni and Phinehas were priests as well. Hophni and Phinehas were wicked.  Eli knew what his sons were doing; however he did not remove them and only corrected them with a weak rebuke: “Why do you do such things?  for I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.  No, my sons!  For it is not good report that I hear.  You make the Lord’s people transgress.” 1 Samuel 2:23-24.  His sons deserved more than this light correction.
• 1 Samuel 2:29-30, A prophet came to Eli saying, “Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me?… for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed“
• To honor means “to regard, esteem or respect.
• We see this in many families.  Where the parents have relinquished their authority over to their children.  The gifting or power of God in the parents to establish the order in their home and raise up godly children are dormant.
• Many leaders are intimidated by their people.  They either carefully prepare a message as not to offend, or confront those in disobedience, or else he rants and raves in frustration, beating the sheep to cover up his intimidation by the few.  But in all of this there is little or no spiritual life.  Rare is the biblical description of God’s presence.  There may be a spurt of life here or there, but God’s presence does not abide, and His word is not free to flow as a fountain of living water.

Chapter #5 – Exposing Intimidation

2 Timothy 1:6 “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you throught the laying on of my hands.”

• Stir up – Rekindle afresh or keep in full flame.
• There are those with pure hearts and true intentions who believe that if God wants something to happen, it will just happen.  However, this is wrong.  As Edmund Burke wrote in 1795: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for GOOD MEN to do NOTHING”
• What causes the gift of God to lie dormant? 2 Timothy 1:7 “For [because] God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind. The word fear implies timidity.  Wow!  So God has not given us the spirit of timidity!
• Intimidated believers lose their authority in the spirit by default; consequently, their gift – God’s ability in them – lies asleep and inactive.  Though it is present, it is not in operation.

Oxford English Dictionary defines intimidation as:

1. The action of intimidating or making afraid
2. The fact or condition of being intimidated
3. The use of threats or violence to force or restrain from some action.

• The Object of intimidation is to restrain you from action, and  coerce or force you into submission.  Intimidation wants to overwhelm you with a sense of inferiority and fear.  Once you’ve retreated into submission, either knowingly or unknowingly, you are a servant of the intimidator.  Now your authority has been stripped from you in order to be used against both you and those in your sphere of influence.
• The origin of intimidation is fear, which has its root in our adversary, the devil.
• Elijah in I Kings 17-19, saw great victory against the prophets of Baal, but shortly after the victory he ran and hid in intimidation from Jezebel.

Symptoms of Intimidation: A intimidating spirit unleashes confusion, discouragement and frustration. Its goal is to cause you to lose our proper perspective.  Everything will seem overwhelming, difficult or even impossible.

• God knew Elijah was determined to run.  When a man ha it in is heart to do something, God will often let him do it even if it is not His perfect will.
• There are those who bear the title of pastor or leader, yet they are controlled by the manipulation and intimidation of others-usually the people who should be undergirding them, such as wives, associates, board members, deacons, intercessors and so forth.
• It is important for a leader to consider the counsel of those around him, whether in his home or his ministry.  But it is more important that he stays in his authority so he can serve and protect his family or ministry using the gift that God has given him.

Jehu (2 Kings 10:28) and Elisha (1 Kings 19:17) would not give up there authority. And eventually the work that God had started with Elijah… was continued through Jehu and Elisha.  When we are intimidated, we give up our position of authority.  We end up unintentionally furthering the cause of the one intimidating us.

Chapter #4 – Imparted Gifts (to those filled with the Spirit)

1 Peter 4:10

• Every person receives a gift  (not a select few)
• The gift is not ours; we are merely stewards of it (not for our PERSONAL GAIN)
• The gift is a portion of God’s manifold grace (2 categories)

1. Oracle Category: Prophecy, teaching, exhorting and leading
2. Serving Category: ministry (serving), giving, and mercy

You should not be in an oracle, or leader, position until you have proved faithful in serving one who is.

Extremes:

1. Those who think more highly of themselves than they ought.  The oracle is not the only gift.  It is not the height of ministry, it is not the only way to serve God!
2. Those who believe ministry is limited only to those who are preachers or ministry staff.  This cripples a church.

• It takes each Holy Ghost filled person in the church to make it function properly.  God has a gift for each of us, we need to know ours and be working in it.  We also need to recognize that everyone in the church has a function or gift.  This is where it is essential to realize that each person is important and of equal value to the church.  There is no big “I”, little “U”.    We need to encourage each other as we work in the gifts that God has given.

A thought provoking point: What would happen if all believers would function in their place?  What awesome things would happen!  What mighty and tremendous things would we see?

We are not responsible for what we are not entrusted with.  Stop worrying about what someone else is or isn’t doing… be concerned about whether YOU are stirring up the gift that God has given YOU.

Chapter #3 – Two Extremes

This chapter of the book brought some astounding truths to light for me.  There are so many in the “church” today who are power seekers (searching for someone to come minister to them with a show of power).  In this chapter, Bevere begins to talk about how many pursue the power and anointing of the Spirit while totally missing Christian Character.  How many of us seek after the works of God in the physical, but never really understand that God wants to work on our inside.  I have begun to really analyze who I am and what reason I use for doing what I do.  I have to admit that out of the two extremes that he mentions, Pursuing Power rather than Character and False Humility, I am in the latter group.  Neither is a group I want to be a part of!  For years I have battled with fear of offending, or saying the wrong thing, therefore I have given over authority to that very thing I battle.  Once I began to read this book, God has been dealing with me to really just trust that He knows what is best and He is in control.  I just have to trust him COMPLETELY!  I have to stop worrying about everything, and allow God to work through and IN me.

• One Extreme: Pursuing Power rather than Character – The goal of the high call of Christianity is NOT the power of God or ministry; it is to KNOW GOD! (Phil. 3:10-15)
• We can’t gauge our spiritual maturity by our ability (or gift) to prophesy or flow in the gifts… God will work in and through who He chooses!  We can be performing works of God, and still not have our hearts right with God.
• A pure heart:  It is more important that we form a right relationship with God than a formula to move in His power.
• The Other Extreme: False Humility – These people recognize the importance of Christian Character but never allow the working of the gift of God inside them.
• They are non-confrontational and are peacekeepers instead of peacemakers. Peacekeepers will go to any length to have a false sense of peace. But blessed are the Peacemakers!!  Those who are willing to fight for what they believe – so that they have peace!  “… the violence take it by FORCE.” (Matt. 11:12)
• Ignoring a situation will not make it go away.  We must address issues…if we don’t, they will never change!
• Fear of confrontation makes you easy prey for intimidation.
• When you are intimidated there is no joy, and without joy – no strength.  Where there is fear there is no peace.

Chapter #2 – Spiritual Position and Authority

• Believers have a “place” in the spirit. (Ps 91:1) You need to know the “place” and function of it.  If you do not, you can not properly function in the body of Christ.
• The beautiful thing about God is that he entrusts us with this authority.  But it is up to us to use it or we will forfeit it to someone else.  (Adam was entrusted with authority over all the animals… but he forfeited it to Satan.) When we forfeit our authority, it doesn’t just affect us… it affects all those around us.
• Positions of Authority – (Eph. 2:2, 6) The words used in this scripture are “heavenly places.”  Satan wants to displace us in the spirit of order to regain what he has lost.  If he can steal or cause someone to lay down their position of authority, then he has authority to operate.
• Rank in the Kingdom – Satan goes after the leaders (whether in church or in homes).  If we willfully transgress the commandments of God, then it won’t be long before our children will follow those footsteps.  When we sin, leaders/parents forfeit their position of authority in the spirit, leaving their children (or those they lead) vulnerable to the enemy.
• We need to be careful not to give occasion to the enemy of the Lord. We may be restored, but there are still consequences that will happen because of our transgressions.

I am studying the book “Breaking Intimidation” by John Bevere.  (I highly recommend this book whether you feel you are a person that is fighting intimidation or not!)  I don’t want to forget the things that I have been learning from it.  So, I want to highlight the points that have made me pause and think.  So here goes…

Chapter #1 - Walk in your Spiritual Authority

• If we do not walk in our God given authority, someone will take it from us and use it against us.
• Intimidation will change your focus by asking, “What is going to happen to me?”  The reason: The root of intimidation is fear, and fear causes people to focus on themselves.
• When you are intimidated by people, you forfeit your authority and the gift of God is quenched in you.

Breaking Intimidation by John Bevere
- Rating: 5 of 5 stars

My review

As I have been reading this book, I find myself going back over each chapter. Not because I don’t understand it. It is very well written. But because there are so many profound points… I want to make sure that I take it all in. This not only explains intimidation and the root of it, but it also gives direction in obtaining freedom from it.


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Parallel Bible-PR-KJV/Am by Zondervan Bible Publishers

My review

I just recently purchased this Bible. I really love that it has the KJV and Amplified side by side. If you are teaching a Bible Study, or for personal study, it can help having the Amplified version available to compare.


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The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian
- Rating: 5 of 5 stars

My review

The first chapter of this book is very deep and at times a struggle to read… because it causes you to address issues about yourself before you ever start praying for your husband. This is an excellent book! This is a book I highly recommend…I have even purchased it for every wife in our church.


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