~Daily Devotion 18th~

3. intimidation

noun

the act of intimidating a weaker person to make them do something [syn: bullying]

the feeling of discouragement in the face of someone's superior fame or wealth or status etc.

the feeling of being intimidated; being made to feel afraid or timid

a communication that makes you afraid to try something [syn: determent]

1. jeal·ous·y

–noun, plural -ous·ies for 4.

1.	jealous resentment against a rival, a person enjoying success or advantage, etc., or against another's success or advantage itself.

2.	mental uneasiness from suspicion or fear of rivalry, unfaithfulness, etc., as in love or aims.

3.	vigilance in maintaining or guarding something.

4.	a jealous feeling, disposition, state, or mood.

2. jeal·ous·y

n. pl. jeal·ous·ies

A jealous attitude or disposition, envy.
Close vigilance.

3. jealousy
noun
1.	a feeling of jealous envy (especially of a rival)
2.	zealous vigilance; "cherish their official political freedom with fierce jealousy"-

4. Jealousy

suspicion of a wife's purity, one of the strongest passions (Num. 5:14; Prov. 6:34; Cant. 8:6); also an intense interest for another's honour or prosperity (Ps. 79:5; 1 Cor. 10:22; Zech. 1:14).

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

In churches around the world people face intimidation and jelousey every day. This in turn causes a church to not be unified.

The sad part of this is a lot of times it starts with people holding different ministries in the church. It maybe between a Pastor and Sunday School Teacher. It maybe between the Pastor and Associate Pastor. It maybe between Sunday School Teachers themselves, department head, and so on.

We need to remember that God gives each person in the church a special ministry according to their gifts.

I have worked in a lot of churches and I have seen this take place. In these churches I soon found out that it was because people have been hurt, and even dominated by certain people. Because of this, these person do not trust people and are always feeling that someone is going to take their job. I have even seen people in positions of authority, say and do things that hurt people because they thought that person needed to be bought down a level, or taught a lesson. Well, to settle this, please understand that a ministry is a position that God gives to you for the gifts that He has equipped you with.

And if a person is secure in their gift/position of ministry, they should not be afraid that someone is going to replace them. Only God can promote and demote.

But I have also worked in churches where people worked together for one purpose, and that purpose was to win lost and dying souls from the pits of hell. This is the kind of church we should strive for, a church that works together.

During these times of ministry I have seen the church out grow their walls. Why? Because each department worked to do their ministry, and was not afraid that another department was going to do more than they did, or get more recognition. They did the ministry God called them too do. And when this happen, then I saw all department of the church work together in unity.

Now you see where unity comes in.

I once had someone ask me if I was intimidated or have been intimidated by anyone? My answer was this. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nor will I ever be!!!!!!!!!!!! Why?????? Because I do not have the time to play childish games.

I know where I stand in the Lord. I know my place and I know the Ministry God called me into before my parents even thought about me.

God called me into the ministry in the beginning of time. He knew that I would be born, and when and where I would be born, and what gifts and plans He had for me. And whatever ministry position He chooses for me at the different times of my life, I will give 150% of myself to that ministry. If I am to be a hammer, I will do my best to nail that nail in straight. If He chooses to make me a screwdriver, I will make sure that I do not strip the screw by trying to be a hammer, but I will be the best screwdriver there is.

In other words if someone had a problem it is their problem not mine. If they need to be the big man on the block, let them. I will be doing the work of the ministry, while they are wasting time bickering. I made my mine up a long time ago not to be bought under satan yoke of discouragement by a controlling and intimidating spirit. God will take care of those situation so why should I worry. I just have always done the job He called me to do, and let others do their jobs. I guarantee that there is enough work for everyone.

(So Ben I hope that answers your question, just as it did Rebecca's when she ask me this same question some 30 years ago. For that was my answer then and it is my answer now.)

See, the body of Christ cannot endue competition between its members or Pastoral Staff. We need each other if we are going to fulfill God's divine purpose in and on this earth. When we fail to flow with every other member of the body, we are rebelling ageist God's purpose for His corporate body and are defeating our own personal destiny. We re injuring other members in the body and withholding the beautiful, corporate Christ that God desires to manifest to the world.

Here is the supreme glory of the Christian man: He is part of the body of Christ on earth. I believe with all my heart that the next step God is going to take is to bring the church into a greater unity than we have ever known before. the Holy Spirit is going to reveal Jesus Christ to the world thought the church: "To Him be the glory in the church." Ephesians 3:21)

Unity can be dangerous. When I taught in the public school system I remember a theory that was taught in the Science classroom, using the Golden Gate Bridge as an example. Force and Fiction, in measures of strength to Gravity and Stability.

When the bridge was restored a few years ago, the media published a warning to the one million people who planned to walk across it the first night it was open. They warned them that if they walked together in rank-in a unified pattern-the bridge would fall from the impact.

Marching bands often break cadence when they cross a bridge. That is a natural example of the power that spiritual unity can bring when the church walks together as one man.

Unity will make the church a powerful force in the earth. Jesus declared that the world would know the Father had sent Him as believers became one in Them.

(John 17:21)
21. that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Perhaps He gave us the greatest key to true evangelism in that stamen. There is a power in unity that will draw the world to Jesus.

Unity attracts people. Everyone wants to be on a united team. The world knows that unity is impossible for people who are bent on making a name for themselves, and also on people who bring other people down because of jealousy.

Living in unity brings a refreshing, revitalizing force to our lives, in part simply because we have been relieved of the tension created by competing with others. But there is also a refreshing because the Lord has promised to command His blessings in the place of unity. The psalmist ended his description of unity by saying, "For there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore" (Psalm 133:3)

Unity brings the blessings of the Lord to our lives and that gives us a foretaste of Heaven.