Dear friends and family,
One of the enemy’s favorite weapons against a believer is intimidation.
Once you make the decision to believe God, Satan will often try to convince you to back down, become silent, or question what God has placed in your heart.
Paul understood that pressure.
He was beaten, imprisoned, mocked, ridiculed, and persecuted because of his faith. Yet Paul made one of the boldest declarations in Scripture:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” Romans 1:16
Paul refused to allow intimidation to determine his confession.
Faith moved him from intimidation to consecration to action.
I learned something about that kind of faith many years ago in Russia.
In March 1991, I was given the opportunity to speak in a Russian high school. I shared the gospel and then asked those who wanted to receive Jesus Christ to raise their hands.
Hands went up throughout the room.
But when I asked them to stand, suddenly no one moved.
Nine young men began mocking and laughing. Fear filled the room.
I asked my interpreter to give the invitation one more time.
Slowly, one young man in the back stood to his feet.
One of the mockers motioned for him to sit down.
He refused.
“Nyet!”
No!
That one young man stood taller.
Then two young ladies stood.
Then an entire row.
Soon, nearly everyone who had responded was standing.
My interpreter’s eyes filled with tears. She told me she had never seen
such courage. Then she asked, “May I receive Jesus today also?”
I will never forget that moment.
One young man’s faith broke the atmosphere of intimidation for an entire room.
That is the power of faith.
Faith does not mean intimidation never comes.
Faith means intimidation does not get the final word.
What has the enemy been trying to intimidate you about?
Your family?
Your health?
Your calling?
Your future?
Something God has told you to do?
Do not surrender your confession because the pressure gets louder.
The gospel is still the power of God.
The Word is still true.
And faith still breaks intimidation.
Stand up. Speak up. Believe God.
Your courage may be the very thing that gives someone else the
courage to stand.
Think big. Believe big.
From my heart to yours,
Mike