Suggested reading and source of one quote: Breaking Intimidation, John Bevere. (o-88419-387-x)

Intimidation must be confronted! Ever face intimidation? How did it make you feel? Ever intimidate to impose your will upon others? At one point or another we all have, if we honestly consider!

Love is of God. Intimidation is void of love. Intimidation is based on fear and manipulation. Grace underscores the generosity of God's love, highlighting the truth that God does not coerce change by threatening us, but instead He conquers by lavishing His love upon us (NKJV, pg.1556, S.F.).

As with most of Satan's devices, intimidation is camouflaged and subtle (Bevere, 21). Why? The enemy is an impostor. All impostors come in camouflage to subtly press down, tie up, and squeeze the liberty in Christ Jesus.

Intimidation intends to impose or control through restricting otherwise normal or healthy interplay between all points of relation in a group setting. If we walk cautiously in a safe zone all the fun is "intimidated away" and all group intimacy is diverted into fragmented spurts of controlled order. True order is not controlled but must be lived out through harmony. Harmony is harmless because love is the melody of unified care and mutual submission throughout the community.

Intimidation reveals insecurity and a true lack of authority. In Christ Jesus we are secure. Intimidation mandates an action forced through threats. I'm reminded of the following scripture:

<sup>9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him (Ephesians 6:9).

Intimidation does not equal authority! Authority is allowing the author and finisher to move and breathe in the midst of normal functions. If ever accused of being intimidating the last thing to do is exert your strength and boast that the accusation is little brother to what might of manifested. Intimidation is the key component to partiality.

If I intimidate certain people while excluding others I am acting partially. Those who are not intimidated walk in a false superiority and power trip - "untouchables". Power trips are pride driven and often lead to a fall. The fall is a crumbling of the intimacy of insecurity disguised as authority through intimidation. Insecurities are strengthened through intimidating others. 

Once the crowd dissipates the false sense of power becomes incomplete without anyone to intimidate. A secluded self is left eager to impose. Loneliness feeds the anticipation to join a crowd or group to inflict intimidations ploys. I learned early while living in Hawaii that Hawaiians were naturally good intimidators. They were more show and talk then walk and action.

In little league football our coach made us warm up without making a peep. The whole time the opposing team would be dancing to "the tunes of the 90's," shouting, beating there pads, pointing there fingers, taunting us and even screaming threats.  Meanwhile our coach told us not to threaten them or even look there way. He would calmly say, "On the first play, all at the same time hit them in the mouth, eleven players all at once. Hit the man in front of you as hard as you can with the front of your face mask.

When we would do this the game was won on the first play. We made real what the opposing team was only able to talk about. That's what intimidation is. A false sense of power and authority.

As long as they danced and made noise they felt secure in their insecurities. We gave up threatening. Once the ball was put into paly the opposing team could no longer dance or mock us. It was game time!

The time always came when it was our time to show them what silent submission is really about. By the middle of the second quarter the game was over and they were taking off there pads on the sidelines as a sign of surrender. If you ever meet an intimidating person, simply submit but don't back down. Back away, breathe and don't react to intimidations ability to arouse your anger.

Mostly, intimidators change the atmosphere negatively by mere presence. If an intimidator is having a bad day they want to impose that on everyone else, usually by aggravating the spirit of peace and unity. Imagine being threatened at every turn. We should not threaten anyone into "doing"!

It might sound something like this: "If you don't get off that table, this and that will be done to you." Opposed to a gentle rebuke and instruction. If my sons acted out and I bypass there misbehavior, while I constanly monitor Jimmy hoping to catch him doing wrong, so I can impose and humiliate him in front of the whole group by threatening him. What signal does this send to the witnesses or even my sons?

Being called out or exposed is different than threatening. Open rebuke is not a threat, rather, open rebuke is love and grace initiating correction or a scolding (to instruct). If I never openly intimidate my sons but have the liberty to intimidate all the other children I become partial. My sons would grow up never receiving correction from anyone because they have been partially protected there whole lives - "untouchable syndrome."

The point I am making is clear, we all as the body of Christ need to stop threatening and intimidating each other to manipulate and scare others into action. Love casts out fear. Fear involves torment and dread. People dread being in the presence of an intimidating spirit, at least I do.

O' well, what do I know? I'm always accused of judging others, is it so Lord? If it is true, please show me how to graciously minister the gospel in truth through love. This is my conclusion: I have learned this, people who are not in Christ are the primary candidates who are justified by screaming judgment. Where does judgment begin? Where does judgment end? Please respond responsibly. Love P.A.</sup>