Unfazed by Intimidation

Unfazed Series

Living with Confidence in a Troubled World

Un-fazed by Intimidation

March 18, 2018

I am delighted that you have joined us today for worship and the preaching of this second message in the “Unfazed Series.” Remember to be fazed is to be distracted or thrown by something (Like Paul Blart the Mall Cop) Satan is a master at distraction!

Some listening to me today have been distracted by him and are not even aware of it. Remember that he is a master at deception. He will us numerous ways and means to throw you to distract you. He has gotten you to take your eyes and focus off God and his direction.

Last week – Distracted by Culture – Psalms 73 – Download our app and you can listen/watch on your phone.

I am convinced that one of his most successful ways of fazing believers is intimidation.

He used intimidation against:

·      Israel to delay their entrance into the promised land (We can’t take it – Giants!)

·      The Israelite army was intimidated by Goliath

·      Peter was intimidated in the courtyard outside Jesus trial

·      Today people are intimidated by the fear of people

Fortunately, God’s word gives us direction to be unfazed by intimidation and live with confidence in a troubled world. Go with me to Psalms 3 and follow along as I read it.

Ps 3:1-8

O Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." 3 But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift b up my head. 4 To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. 5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. 6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. 7 Arise, O Lord! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8 From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. NIV

Background on the text:

Most believe that this psalm is written by David as he is running from his own son Absalom. Absalom had been banished by his father David from the palace because of his taking vengeance by murdering his half-sisters’ rapist. This powerful real-life drama has numerous spiritual lessons for us.  Absalom is eventually let back to the city and sits out city gate. There he uses manipulation to wrestle the kingdom and take the throne from his father King David. David flees the palace and runs for his life as Absalom uses devious, treachery to displace him. The details of all this can be found in 2 Samuel chapters 13 -18.

David is definitely feeling intimidated, his security is shaken, his confidence is rattled, and doubts begin to creep in and cloud his heart and mind. That’s how the psalm starts but there is a transformation process reveal in the text. It reveals how you and I can live unfazed by intimidation.

David shows us that to be unfazed by intimidation we must….

I.              Rehearse Your Pressures to God (vs. 1-2)

O Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him."

Obviously, David is being intimidated by his enemies and Satan is magnifying them to David. There seem to be 3 categories:

a.    Foes/Adversaries (v.1)

Reading this it almost seems that David is surprised that there are enemies who stand opposed to Him.

It’s safe to say that there had always been some that opposed and were adversaries or foes. Those loyal to King Saul, those who hated God, those who thought David should rule differently.

This is borne out by 2 Samuel where we read:

As King David was escaping from Jerusalem, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out and cursed him.  Shimei pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were all around them. He screamed, “Get out, get out, you murderer! The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”

b.    New Opposition (v.1)

This group is most likely those who Absalom manipulated and swayed thru trickery and deception into a coupe to overthrow David.

·      That it was his own Son who dishonors him and opposes him had to be especially devasting and troubling to David.

·      Absalom seeks to further intimidate David and manipulates the people by setting up a tent on the rooftop of the palace to sleep opening with all the king’s wives.

c.     Skeptics (v.2) Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him."

·      Now Satan brought out the biggest weapon against David as he attempted to intimidate him with doubts and fear.

o   Fear that God wouldn’t help him

o   Fear that God things were beyond God’s control or help

Now I what to point out how the Psalm opens. The opening words are two words, “Oh Lord!”  This psalm is clearly a prayer!

·      When David is intimidated by the enemy where does he turn? To God!!!

·      He pours his heart out to God and rehearses the troubles he faces to God

·      Question is where do you turn?

To live with confidence in this troubled world learn to turn to God like David did in the face of intimidation.

One other important point that leads to next. Notice that David takes just one verse focusing on these enemies but the rest of the psalm looking to God! We fuel intimidation by focusing to long and hard on the enemy. Notice…

The next thing David and the psalm reveals is that to be unfazed by intimidation we must….

II.            Recognize Your Dependence on God (vs. 3-5)

3 But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift b up my head. 4 To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. 5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

Oh, do you hear what David is saying? There are those opposed to me. The enemy is railing against me, BUT YOU O LORD…. Say it with me – “But you Lord!”

David said my family is in shambles, I have lost my throne (job), my reputation is being slandered, I find myself running for my life …. But you Lord!

·      What a powerful declaration of his faith and dependence on the Lord

·      There may be many foes, new opposition, and skeptics but my trust is in you Oh Lord!

David was unfazed in the troubles of his life and lived with confidence because You Oh Lord:

a.    Hear my Cry (v.4) To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.

·      David was confident that God answers prayer!

·      God’s word is filled with examples of God hearing the cries of his people and answering prayer!

o   In the New Testament we read in Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. NIV God sends the angel of the Lord to initiate the jail break. He is suddenly and miraculous delivered

o   Daniel and his friends are about to die because no one can interpret a dream of the king. Daniel prays and God answers giving him the interpretation.

o   You too can be unfazed and have confidence in a troubled world as you recall that God hears your cry

David was unfazed in the troubles of his life and lived with confidence because You Oh Lord:

b.    Sustain me (v.5) 5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

·      One translation says “the Lord watches over me”

·      Reminiscent of 23 Psalm 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; NIV

Finally, David and the psalm reveals is that to be unfazed by intimidation we must….

III.          Remind Yourself of What the Bible Says about God (vs. 3, 7-8) But you are a shield around me, . 7 Arise, O Lord! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8 From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. NIV

a.    He is a shield (v.3)

David recognized God was his ultimate protection. David declares that the enemy could attack BUT You are a shield around me!

Roman soldiers had two kinds of shields. They had a smaller shield that fit on one arm. It could be easily maneuvered to ward off the enemy’s sword in close combat. But they also had larger shields (referred to here), about four feet high by two and a half feet wide, that they hid behind while advancing against the enemy. They were made of wood, covered with leather, and bound with iron. The soldiers would stand shield to shield, forming a wall of protection against the enemy’s flaming arrows. As long as they were behind their shields, they were protected. If they moved out from behind the shield, they could suffer painful or fatal wounds. One soldier reported having over 200 enemy arrows in his shield after an intense battle! So the shield was essential for survival! https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-59-essential-shield-ephesians-616

b.    He is the Deliverer (Vs. 7-8) 8 From the Lord comes deliverance.

·      The word “deliverer,” in the Hebrew, means, “to (cause to) escape; to carry away safely” (Strong)

·      David lived unfazed because he stood behind the shield of God assured that from the Lord came deliverance

·      As a boy David learn the truth that “from the Lord comes deliverance” as a went out to face the intimidating Goliath he said: The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." 1 Sam 17:37  NIV

Conclusion:

Years ago, when in lived in Southeastern Ohio I saw such a vivid illustration of the power of intimidation. [Cat and chipmunk/ground squirrel]

There are many listening to me by YouTube as well as those in this sanctuary the enemy is harassing you and toying with you. Some have become so focused on him (the enemy) that you have listen to the skeptics and the opposition. This morning God brought you here to lift up your head to live a life unfazed by his deceptions. Give you the same confidence David had!