Unfazed SeriesLiving with Confidence in a Troubled WorldUn-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 3:1-8O 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 th