INTIMIDATED?
Memorise: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as
a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: – 1 Peter 5:8
Read: 1 Kings 19:1-4 (KJV)
1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had
slain all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do
to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by
tomorrow about this time.
3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to
Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and
sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die;
and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better
than my fathers.
Bible in One Year: Matthew
21:28-23:39; Job 14:18-15:6
Discouragement is usually defined as a lack of courage, a state of mind which
is marked by fear of failure and loss of hope. Discouragement is one of the
powerful weapon commonly used by the devil to keep children of God from
fulfilling their purpose. Satan used it against the Israelites to prevent them
from entering Canaan because they were intimidated by the circumstances
surrounding conquering the Canaanites; the Canaanite cities were very large,
well fortified, and seemingly undefeatable. These caused the heart of
Israelites to melt within them to the extent that they lost faith in the Word
of God, and could not act on the promises of God.
Discouragement is failure to live by faith. It usually leads to doubt, and an
inability to view circumstances around us from a divine perspective. Discouragement
is therefore a sinful state of mind that is unable to adjust to disappointment
and unfavourable circumstances in line with the Word of God and His promises.
It is important to note that discouragement is a powerful weapon of
intimidation in the hands of the devil. It usually comes whenever a person has
an important objective to achieve. For example, Israel had an objective given
to them by God; the walls of Jerusalem were to be rebuilt. As the people
embarked on the project with vigour determination, they were faced with
opposition from enemies and even the Jews. The situation became intimidating to
the point of demoralisation as recorded in Nehemiah 4:10-23. At a
point, some of the workers became discouraged while the wall was yet half
finished, then the opposition intensified their attack using fear and
intimidation as the chief weapon. All these were masterminded by the devil to
make it impossible for the Jews to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem at that time. 1 Peter 5:8-9 says,
"8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a
roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist
stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in
your brethren that are in the world."
The Bible admonishes us to be sober, vigilant, and watchful, always ready to
resist and confront anyone that may want to weaken our hands from doing
whatever assignment the Lord has committed to us.
By the grace of God, the success story of the Redeemed Christian Church of God
is being told all over the world today, but when we first started, the steps
God used to bring in the results that are being celebrated were terribly
criticised both within and outside church. I decree that all oppositions to
your success and breakthrough will be silenced today in Jesus name.
Prayer Point: Father, don't let me ever fall for discouragement from
satanic intimidation.
Hymn: My Faith Has Found a Resting
Place
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