Sometimes we forget where we are. We are so comfortable in our convenient lives and so accustomed to doing things that we think we are in home ground, or friendly territory. And we are not.
John 17: 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Ever traveled to a foreign land? When you are in a foreign place, you are very vulnerable. You come into the place with your home grown mindset and hope that their culture and values are not completely different from yours. For example, when you say you’d like to buy a kilo of meat, all you can do is hope that they do not consider rat to be meat too. The problem with being out of your element is one. INTIMIDATION. It's very hard to get intimidated in familiar places by familiar people, but when you are a stranger...
Remember Joshua and Caleb? They were sent with ten other guys to scout the land they were going to take over. They all saw the same land, same inhabitants, same vegetation. But the other ten guys couldn’t wait to get back and report that they were like Locusts in their own eyes when they compared themselves with the inhabitants. But Joshua and Caleb saw that the land was good and that the land was flowing with milk and honey.
Wanna know how intimidation works? For you to be intimidated, you’ve got to willingly participate in the process. Ever waited for exam results and started getting the feeling that people were looking at you like you’d failed? Ever met an important person and talked freely until you learnt that they were so important? Ever felt like everyone just went quiet in a room when you walked in and think that they were talking about you? If you let them, things can really get into your head and make you start seeing and experiencing things that are devastating yet imaginary. Things just seem to line up and point to your doom. Everything is a sign that you are finished. But it’s not true. Half of these things only occur in your mind. Ever seen a scarecrow? They are made to look as frightening and as intimidating as possible. If only the birds knew the TRUTH. It’s just a scarecrow! And they affect your body and eventually even your spirit. The tricky part, behind enemy lines is figuring out what’s true and what’s not.You participate in your own intimidation.
The body is inclined to evil. If you let it, it will only make you want to do all the things that will lead you to hell on earth. You can argue all you want, but trust me, your body cannot be trusted.
Your Mind is neutral ground. Or rather, it used to be neutral ground and then you were born and all manner of evil crawled into it. But the best thing about your mind, is that you have control over it. It is the factor that tips the scales. If you pack your mind with all things good, all things noble, all things lovely, your scale will tip and the Holy Spirit will thrive in you. If you don't put anything in your mind, evil will sprout from nowhere. If you pack your mind with evil... trust me, you'll be surprised by what you are capable of.
The Spirit of God is good and he lives within you. For him to live in you, your body must have submitted to his preferences and your mind must be conformed to his requirements. The Holy Spirit is a Gentleman. If things are not to his liking, he will not stay where he is not wanted. If you want him in you, make his stay comfortable.
As a Christian, there is so much around you that is not on your side. But Christ said that he has overcome the world. So what the devil does, he intimidates you into thinking you are losing. He puts scarecrows to intimidate and scare you. That you’d better conform to his way or else you are done. You’ll never get ahead if you don’t do things the way everyone’s doing it. He puts up spectacular visions to show you that you do not stand a chance.
Do not be intimidated. Do not buckle. Keep your head. Don’t listen to your feelings. Do not trust what you see with your eyes. Just don’t. Things are not as thick as they look, half of what you see is just you going nuts. God is with you if you are with him. You know what you should trust? Trust the word.
John 17: 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.Just don’t let yourself slip into evil. If you feed your mind with things that are not building you and reminding you who you are and the value that God has in you, you will slip. Fill your mind with the Truth. The Truth. Because half of what you see is not true. Trust me, if you let the enemy get into your head, you will slip. Don’t let him take over your mind. Remember who you are and what you are about. Your Bible is all you have to read. It’s your memoirs of where you belong, it is your mission instructions, it is your comfort, your encouragement, your answer and your reality. It is Truth. The Word is Truth. Jesus is the Truth.
You are behind enemy lines. Don’t you forget that.
The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence; it is to act with yesterday's logic.