Breaking Intimidation by John Bevere

Author:John Bevere
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: Non-Fiction
ISBN: 9781591858812
Publisher: Creation House
Published: 1995-06-14T22:00:00+00:00

It is easy to be confident as long as God is doing what we expect

Chapter 9

The Root of Intimidation

Walking free from intimidation has nothing to do with being an extrovert. Some of the most outgoing people I have known have battled intimidation. As a matter of fact, sometimes their exuberance is merely a cover-up for the timidity they fight within themselves. Shutting down is not the only symptom of being intimidated. With some people, the more uncomfortable they are, the more they talk.

Being able to be intimidated has nothing to do with how anointed you are either. I have known men who were powerful in ministry, yet struggled with intimidation. When the anointing rested on them they were fearless, their weakness cloaked in God's anointing. Yet when the mantle of anointing was lifted, there remained only a man battling fear and insecurity. In one-on-one situations their timidity was shockingly apparent. How do I know this to be true? Because I was such a man.

You can be outgoing, strong, bold—even anointed—and still fight intimidation. When the pressure becomes strong enough, what you're made of is exposed. Possessing a spirit of timidity has nothing to do with a deficiency in personality, physical strength or anointing. So, what does render people vulnerable to intimidation?

Appearance vs. Truth

In answer, observe Simon Peter. He was outgoing, never shy to voice his opinion. He was bold. By all appearances, Peter was strong-willed and fearless. It seemed nothing could intimidate Peter, but something did. His fear of death caused him to deny Jesus three times. So the ability to walk free from intimidation is not a function of a strong personality, or Simon would have been the least likely to deny Jesus and the most equipped to remain faithful.

Some have a tendency to dismiss Simon Peter as all talk; they say that when it came time for action he was really "chicken." In answer to this I ask, "How many chickens would dare to stand up to a fully-armed mob with guards and make an offensive attack?" Peter boldly did! John 18:3,10 records:

Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons...Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear.

This doesn't sound like a chicken to me. So why would Simon Peter defy the soldiers, only to cower before a servant girl? Yes, that's right. It was a servant girl who intimidated him! "Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, You also were with Jesus of Galilee.' But he denied it" (Matt. 26:69-70).

Why the change?

A Bold Front

To answer, let's go back to earlier that evening. All the disciples were together celebrating Passover. Jesus warned them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night" (Matt. 26:31). But Peter made himself an exception and boldly declared, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble" (Matt.

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