Don’t Be Intimidated
2 Timothy 2:23-26 (AKJV)
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Dear Friends, these days one of areas where the church is divided and overly engaged, is in winning debates. Enemy wants us to be intimidated so that your focus shifts on winning arguments and disputes, rather than winning souls for the kingdom. This is a common scenario in Christian households, work and worship places. While walking in the will of God we will always come across opposition.
The enemy uses different people in our lives to create obstruction and opposition. These encounters obviously hurt us. There is a 3 way response to such hurts. The first is we will keep pondering about it and turn these hurts into offences and end up hurting others. The best way is to forgive and forget such situation by the power of the Holy Spirit. The second method is to go all out and deal with such people and try and win arguments. God did not call us win argument He has called us win souls. Winning over an argument or a debate will just give gratification to our flesh but will hinder plan and purposes of God in our lives.
The third way is we will keep quite and run away from such debates and situations. Having a politically correct stand. Like it or not God’s kingdom does not run on political and democratic principles. God’s kingdom has God’s rule. In the Gospels there are many accounts where people were trying to test Jesus by engaging Him in unnecessary debates. The place where they asked Him about paying taxes (Matthew 22:15-22). The instance where they questioned Jesus about the healing on Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6). People brought a woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). In all these situations Jesus taught us to turn the tables. He never exited the scene grumbling, neither He kept quite but taught all these people in love and humility. This is reason many were saved and delivered from the snares of the evil one. When you encounter such situation depend pray and depend upon the Holy Spirit to give your right words( Matthew 10:19).
Let our focus be on doing what God has called us to do.The Holy Spirit is a spirit of peace and love. Use the gift of love and faith to overcome such issues. Have victorious day Pr. Bakshi-The Well Diggers Ministry.