Joyful Living Devotional - Day 14
Day 14 – No Intimidation!
Philippians 1:28 (NLT) Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.
Paul continues to encourage the church in Philippi. He reminds them that he may see them again in person or only hear about how they are doing. He knows they will stand together in unity of spirit and purpose, contending for the faith, which is the Good News of Jesus. The pressure the church faces stems from the fact that they are now citizens of heaven. This means they are living by heavenly values, but it is also deeper than that. Their future and their enemies’ future are sealed by that fact. Therefore, they don’t have to be intimidated by anything the enemy brings against them.
Just as Peter wrote to believers in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), 1 Peter 3:14 says, "But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats" (NLT). Paul encourages the Philippians not to be intimidated in any way. Being a citizen of heaven means your past is forgiven and your future is secured. You belong to the Lord, and He holds your future in His hands.
When we realize that we are citizens of heaven, we are set free from the world's intimidation. We live in a world that is increasingly hostile toward faith, especially toward Christianity. It is true that, in some arenas, we, as Christ followers, have failed, and the criticism we receive is just; nevertheless, we see a continual onslaught against the values we uphold as Christ followers.
We live in “cancel culture,” where everything and everyone is subjected to scrutiny and judgment, especially when we disagree with the world’s values and belief systems. That can be very intimidating! The spirit in the world is the spirit of the antichrist, and it is hell-bent on ensuring that we do not represent God’s kingdom well. Whether it is done by causing us to fight one another, by failing to reflect the true identity of Christ, or by simply intimidating us into silence, it is all meant to cause us to shrink back in fear and not do or say what needs to be said!
As the church, we must continue to speak up for Christ's ways and values, regardless of the cost. Yes, we might have to suffer for the sake of Christ. But Paul says that when we suffer for the right reasons, we must count it a privilege. We might be labeled, dismissed, and called all kinds of names, but all of that is meant to intimidate us into acquiescing and giving in to the spirit of the world.
“Any time we open ourselves up to fear, we fall prey to his deceptions and intimidations. Yet, if we submit our hearts to God and stand in faith, we can resist those first fearful thoughts. As we yield to God we can master our reactions to fear and the enemy will soon flee.” – Francis Frangipane
Don’t let potential suffering or the weight of intimidation keep you from doing and saying what Christ requires of you. Paul reminds us that we are not standing alone and that, in the end, God will render the final verdict on all lives. If you stand up for God, you will, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, receive life and more life as your portion. Your Father will ultimately set all things right, and you will be rewarded for any and all suffering you endured for His sake! Remember, suffering endured for His sake is not due to your foolishness; there is a difference…
So speak boldly, love deeply, embrace the truth daily, and let the Holy Spirit use you as His vessel for righteousness’ sake. Be bold amid the noise!
Prayer:
Philippians 1:28 (NLT) Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.
Paul continues to encourage the church in Philippi. He reminds them that he may see them again in person or only hear about how they are doing. He knows they will stand together in unity of spirit and purpose, contending for the faith, which is the Good News of Jesus. The pressure the church faces stems from the fact that they are now citizens of heaven. This means they are living by heavenly values, but it is also deeper than that. Their future and their enemies’ future are sealed by that fact. Therefore, they don’t have to be intimidated by anything the enemy brings against them.
Just as Peter wrote to believers in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), 1 Peter 3:14 says, "But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats" (NLT). Paul encourages the Philippians not to be intimidated in any way. Being a citizen of heaven means your past is forgiven and your future is secured. You belong to the Lord, and He holds your future in His hands.
When we realize that we are citizens of heaven, we are set free from the world's intimidation. We live in a world that is increasingly hostile toward faith, especially toward Christianity. It is true that, in some arenas, we, as Christ followers, have failed, and the criticism we receive is just; nevertheless, we see a continual onslaught against the values we uphold as Christ followers.
We live in “cancel culture,” where everything and everyone is subjected to scrutiny and judgment, especially when we disagree with the world’s values and belief systems. That can be very intimidating! The spirit in the world is the spirit of the antichrist, and it is hell-bent on ensuring that we do not represent God’s kingdom well. Whether it is done by causing us to fight one another, by failing to reflect the true identity of Christ, or by simply intimidating us into silence, it is all meant to cause us to shrink back in fear and not do or say what needs to be said!
As the church, we must continue to speak up for Christ's ways and values, regardless of the cost. Yes, we might have to suffer for the sake of Christ. But Paul says that when we suffer for the right reasons, we must count it a privilege. We might be labeled, dismissed, and called all kinds of names, but all of that is meant to intimidate us into acquiescing and giving in to the spirit of the world.
“Any time we open ourselves up to fear, we fall prey to his deceptions and intimidations. Yet, if we submit our hearts to God and stand in faith, we can resist those first fearful thoughts. As we yield to God we can master our reactions to fear and the enemy will soon flee.” – Francis Frangipane
Don’t let potential suffering or the weight of intimidation keep you from doing and saying what Christ requires of you. Paul reminds us that we are not standing alone and that, in the end, God will render the final verdict on all lives. If you stand up for God, you will, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, receive life and more life as your portion. Your Father will ultimately set all things right, and you will be rewarded for any and all suffering you endured for His sake! Remember, suffering endured for His sake is not due to your foolishness; there is a difference…
So speak boldly, love deeply, embrace the truth daily, and let the Holy Spirit use you as His vessel for righteousness’ sake. Be bold amid the noise!
Prayer:
- Pray that the Lord will set you free from a spirit of fear and intimidation.
- Pray for a renewed boldness to speak about the Good News of Jesus.
- Pray the first part of Psalm 27:
Posted in Joyful Living Devotional