Intimidation

This is how the enemy operates. He uses fear and intimidation. The godly way to resist it is not through rebellion, but love.

If we use the same weapon, if we operate in the same spirit of intimidation by fighting back with threats and accusations, how will we be different from our accuser?

We believe that through the resurrection, Jesus delivered us from the fear of death. So if death is defeated, who or what can intimidate us? No one! (Rom 8:31)

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

We have the power and ability to love our enemy, our accuser. We have in us the Spirit who raised Christ from the dead. And the same Spirit will also give life to our mortal bodies, our hearts included. (Rom 8:11)

We CAN love. We CAN discipline ourselves to love our enemy, and even make it a habit, a way of life and a passion, to live by a heart on fire with the passion of Christ.

Please read the below verse bearing in mind that when Jesus addressed the crowd and when He was referring to tax collectors, He was referring to the corrupt class, those who were robbing the people, those who were unjustly ruling over them, impoverishing them. So let us not be of the world, but be the light that’s in the world!

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48)