Sun.’s Devo - Freedom From Intimidation

Read: 2 Kings 18:13-19:37; Acts 21:1-16; Psalm 149:1-9; Procebs 18:8
King Hezekiah had rebelled against paying the king of Assyriah any more tribute so Sennacherib sent his own personal army against Jerusalem. They came in pomp and force and intimidation. Hezekiah repented to him and gave him silver and gold, but that was not enough for Sennacherib. He wanted total surrender. Hezekiah was distraught and went to his spiritual leaders for advice.
Isaiah sent a message to Hezekiah saying that heaven was aroused by Sennacherib and his lying threats. God would come to their rescue because they were God’s children and Sennacherib was exalting himself against God by saying he was more powerful than God. God took the challenge and would fight him with his own army. He did and killed 185,000 in one night. Sennacherib left with his tail between his legs and was killed by his own son when he got home.
This is a picture of spiritual warfare. The devil is the great intimidator and if you look with natural eyes, he looks pretty scary. But, with the eyes of God, he is already defeated and just a bag of hot air. He wants to put fear in us so we don’t do the things God has called us to do because of his threats. God has an army that is waiting to fight for us if we just have faith.
We see this same spirit of intimidation trying to keep Paul from going to Jerusalem. He had prophet after prophet tell him what awaited him. The people saw it with their natural eyes and didn’t want Paul to have to suffer. Paul saw it as a picture of what awaited him but not a reason to avoid it. He knew he would suffer but his eyes were not on this world’s comfort but the finish of his race. He was willing to do whatever it took to win the prize. Satan did not want him to make it to Jerusalem, but Paul knew it was his destiny. Jesus’ disciples did not want Jesus to die on the cross but he knew it was his destiny.
Lord, help us to be fearless against death and pain and let us boldly march to our own destiny. Let us not listen to the intimidation of the enemy but rest in your words of love.