Years ago I was with another minister on an airplane. We met a Jewish woman who was very outgoing and witty. We got into an intense conversation with her about the Lord Jesus. We fired statements back and forth to one another, attempting to prove Jesus as the Messiah. All the while she was attempting to prove His claims to be false.

All of a sudden I realized what I was doing. I knew this mental discussion would go nowhere. So I looked within for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and He revealed what I should speak. I looked at her and shared the words He gave me. As I did, my voice changed, and an authority came on what I was saying. As soon as she heard these words, her eyes got big, and she was silent. All our debating had not helped her. But when the word of the Lord came, she was immediately ministered to.

After we got off the plane, the minister I was traveling with said, “John, I could sense the presence of the Lord when you spoke those words. Did you notice she had nothing more to say?” Don’t get caught up in fruitless discussions ruled by mental understanding of the Scriptures. Instead, let the Holy Spirit guide you into spiritual wisdom.

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual …He who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:13,15-16).

The man who has the mind of Christ cannot be judged or intimidated! I could share numerous incidents when I would have been intimidated if I had not looked to the Spirit of God.

We are admonished to walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6). Jesus only did what He saw the Holy Spirit do. If we do that, we will have soundness of mind and possess the boldness we need to overcome intimidation and control.

Used with Permission. Bevere, John. Breaking Intidimation. Lake Mary: Charisma House, 1995, p. 180-181.