We often feel intimidated around those we think are
superior to us. Perhaps we believe they are more beautiful, more
intelligent, have more money, or are more spiritual than we are.
As a result of thinking these type things, we feel intimidated
in their presence. However, there are some things that when understood
will help us overcome such thoughts and feelings.
You are not an accident! You are created by God
(Ps. 139:14-16). God's plan in the beginning was to have a perfect
race of people. However, man sinned and lost his condition of
innocence. As a result of that sin all types of sickness, sin
and death have come into the human family. Any imperfection in
us is a result of original sin.
Jesus death on the cross paid the price for man's
sin. To all who receive Him as Savior and Lord their sins are
forgiven, remitted and cleansed. The Word of God has been given
and the Holy Spirit has come to teach man how to live a new way
of life. This life is to be lived in God's plan. It is a life
that is free from the moral, emotional, mental and spiritual fallacies
of sin. As one is renewed by the Word of God ( Rom. 12:2, Eph.
4:23, Titus 3:5-7), he can enter more fully into the atonement's
provisions.
Feelings of intimidation, insecurity and inferiority
are triplets. They are a hold-over from the Fall. They can remain
in a believer's life if he does not renew his thinking by the
Word of God. To think as the world thinks is to be intimidated
by others. To think as God thinks is to be freed from intimidation.
By teaching as we do, We are not promoting arrogance,
pride, selfishness or that one should think too highly of himself
(Rom. 12:3). Such things come from an unrenewed mind as well.
However, we are saying that one should see himself redeemed by
the Blood of Christ-a child of God-an overcomer-complete in Christ!
Besides the unrenewed mind and the results of Adam's
nature, there are some other reasons one is intimidated.
Fear of Man - Prov.29:25
says, "the fear of man bringeth a snare." The Bible
reveals two main types of fear; the fear of God and the fear
of man. We are encouraged to develop a holy fear of God while
at the same time told that the fear of man brings a snare. We
are also told in 2 Tim.1:7 that "God has no given us a spirit
of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind." Whether
a result of the fall or of an urenewed mind, all of us at some
point must contend with fear of man. The person that we are fearful
of will intimidate us. They may not be doing anything to intentionally
intimidate us, it may be just our perception of them that does
so.
Believers often compare themselves to others
(2Cor.3:1-6). As a result of doing so, one of two things often
happen. We exalt ourselves to look better than the other person,
which is pride; or we see the others' accomplishments, position
or possessions and feel intimidated when we think of our own.
Ten of the spies that Moses sent to spy out the land
of Canaan suffered from this (Num.13:1-33). "We saw grasshoppers
in our own eyes, and wee looked the same to them.: As a result
of such thinking, though they admitted that Canaan was a land
of milk and honey, they could only emphasize that the Canaanites
were bigger, stronger and more powerful then they were. Verse
32 says, "And they spread among the Israelites a bad report
about the land they had explored. They said the land we explored
devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are great
size. " As it turns out all the inhabitants of Canaan were
not giants! Because they gave this report the congration of Israel,
who thought the same way, believed their report and refused to
go onto the land of Canaan. Their refusal to obey God resulted
in entire generations over the age of twenty dying in the wilderness.
Caleb and Joshua, the other two spies, believed God's Word enough
and declared to the congregation that they could take the land.
No one believed them however. Caleb and Joshua were the only
ones of the older generations to actually go in and possess the
land. They refused to be intimidated by the enemies' appearance.
One time God called a young prophet, Ezekiel (Eze.2),
and told him that he was being sent to a rebellious, hard-headed
people. But God told him no to be afraid or intimidated by their
looks or actions for He would be with him. God still does this
today!
Absence of a firm foundation.
Psalm 11:3 says, "if the foundations be destroyed, what can
the righteous do?" If one is insecure in himself as to his
own relationship to God, his own Humanity (be it male or female)
or his own abilities, intimidation is a sure result.
Jesus gave us a good example of being secure by His
washing the disciples feet. John 13:1-17 gives us the account.
Jesus knew He had come from the Father and that He was to soon
return there. He felt secure enough to get down before His disciples
and wash their feet. He did not come to be served but to serve.
He could do this because He was very secure. Insecurity will
not allow this.
Insecurity demands that others serve us; that we
be exalted, complemented or praised. Insecurity will demand the
accumulation of the finest of everything to satisfy or attempt
to meet the needs that one feels within. If one has a great feeling
of insecurity he often tries to get a bigger, better house or
car. A bigger bank account, better clothes or jewelry accompanies
these also. While there is nothing inherently wrong with these
things, if on is hording them because of insecurity then he is
living in the flesh, controlled by both the world system and Satan,
while the plan of God goes unfulfilled in his life.
If in the midst of his hording of such things he
should see someone else who has more, bigger or better things,
he feels intimidated by the other person or the things the other
person possesses.
However, if he could see the other person as blessed
of God, as well as himself, then he could rejoice with that person
instead of being jealous, resentful and intimidated.
So we have the problem, what can we do about it?
First, immerse yourself in what the Bible says you
are in Christ. There are 168 things the New Testament says you
are or have in Christ. Read and re-read these until they come
alive to you. This will not produce pride, but an humble submission
to God. As you see yourself as less than others before God.
Others may still be more beautiful, possess more or have a better
position than you; but this will not cause intimidation and fear,
for now you can see yourself and them as God does. You will
begin to realize that you are accepted and loved of God. You
are what God says you are, therefore, these things are no longer
the standard by which you judge them or yourself.
Second, declare or confess what the Bible says you
are in Christ. After you read what the Bible says, now SAY what
the Bible says. Say it loud with your mouth. Let yourself hear
it with your ears? Quit putting yourself down. Quit speaking
about yourself differently than the Bible speaks. "Death
and life are in the power of the tongue" Proverbs says.
This is certainly true in this context. If you declare that God
doesn't love or care about you; or that you are such a worm,
you are causing your mind consciously or subconsciously, to see
yourself this way. This image is being planted deeper and deeper
into your life. Defeat becomes inevitable.
However, if you see yourself as the Bible says you
are in God, and speak it, then your thoughts and actions can live
in the victory purchased for us on the Cross.
Third, refuse the counsel of the world. Psalm 1:1-2
says, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel
of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth
in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of
the Lord and in His law does he meditate day and night."
All of us are bombarded with ungodly counsel daily. Radio, television,
magazines, newspapers and friends are just some of the avenues
it is given to us. We must be well versed in Scripture to be
able to withstand and overcome such an onslaught.
The world system teaches just enough truth to entice
but even with it never teaches the true source of victory. For
example, the world says everybody at some time or other needs
help. We agree. But the help is form God not man. God has the
answer and it is not an invention of man. We must be able to
judge counsel that is given to us by the Word of God; and to resist
and reject that which does not line up with the Scripture.
Fourth, accept the counsel and encouragement of Godly
friends. In Romans 15:14, Paul expresses his belief in the Roman
Christians that they were full of knowledge (Bible knowledge)
and competent to counsel or encourage each other. This is important
for all of us. Godly friends are a support that we all need.
It is self defeating if believers degrade, discourage or have
pity parties. But it builds up when we speak the Word to each
other.
Fifth, decide that you will not be intimidated by
neither man nor demon. At some point, intimidation becomes a
decision of the will. Just as easily as we decide that we will
be intimidated, we can decide that we will not be. Many times
defeat is a result of a wrong decision that we have made. Victory
can be the result of a right decision. Declare "I will be
victorious because Jesus, the greater One, lives in me and He
has provided the victory though the Cross. I will not fear what
man can do tome, for I am trusting in Jesus as my security, provision
and victory!"
Being the youngest child in a large family and having
a poor self image and self esteem, I understand what it is to
feel intimidated by others and to have feelings of insecurity
and inferiority. However there can a time when I began to overcome
it.
In the early 70's I attended a Pastor's conference
at Valley Community Church in Louisville where Bob Mumford and
others were ministering. At a Saturday morning service Bob ministered
on Jesus washing the disciples feet. It was powerfully anointed
of the Holy Spirit. As he began to talk about Jesus being secure
in who He was with the Father, the Lord took some things out of
me as I sat there. I began to see that I was very insecure, intimidated
by others and felt inferior to almost everyone. After a time
of deep repentance and worship, God touched me and freed me in
the spirit. From that day I have been much more of an overcomer
in these areas.
Below, I have given the references about the 168 things we are or have in Christ. I would encourage you to look them up in your New Testament, read and re-read what the Scriptures say you are in Christ. This will give the Holy Spirit some material to use to deliver you from intimidation, insecurity and inferiority. Do it, it works!
ROMANS
I CORINTHIANS
II CORINTIANS
GALATIANS
EPHESIANS
PHILLIPIANS
COLOSSIANS
I THESSALONIANS
II THESSALONIANS
II TIMOTHY
TITUS
HEBREWS
JAMES
I PETER
II PETER
I JOHN
JUDE
REVELATION