From Victim to Victor
Notes
Transcript
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
I. Introduction
I. Introduction
A. All of us have moments of feeling defeated or victimized.
A. All of us have moments of feeling defeated or victimized.
B. Stress the importance of addressing these feelings honestly and seeking God's help to overcome them.
B. Stress the importance of addressing these feelings honestly and seeking God's help to overcome them.
1. I cannot express enough how important it is that we come grips with the fact that these things bother us, but we CANNOT stop with this understanding!
1. I cannot express enough how important it is that we come grips with the fact that these things bother us, but we CANNOT stop with this understanding!
2. We must take it to the Lord in prayer!
2. We must take it to the Lord in prayer!
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
II. Understanding the Victim Mentality
II. Understanding the Victim Mentality
A. Define and explain what it means to have a victim mentality.
A. Define and explain what it means to have a victim mentality.
1. The victim mentality is a pervasive way of thinking where individuals consistently view themselves as the victims of circumstances, the actions of others, or their own emotions and thoughts. This mindset is characterized by a constant sense of powerlessness, a feeling of being targeted, or the belief that one is at the mercy of external forces.
1. The victim mentality is a pervasive way of thinking where individuals consistently view themselves as the victims of circumstances, the actions of others, or their own emotions and thoughts. This mindset is characterized by a constant sense of powerlessness, a feeling of being targeted, or the belief that one is at the mercy of external forces.
And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
B. The Israelites in Egypt were a people who felt victimized and powerless.
B. The Israelites in Egypt were a people who felt victimized and powerless.
III. The Power of Perspective
III. The Power of Perspective
A. Our perspective can greatly influence our emotional and spiritual state.
A. Our perspective can greatly influence our emotional and spiritual state.
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
B. Despite being sold into slavery and imprisoned, he never saw himself as a victim. Instead, he believed that God had a greater plan.
B. Despite being sold into slavery and imprisoned, he never saw himself as a victim. Instead, he believed that God had a greater plan.
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
C. The apostle Paul found purpose in his imprisonment, sharing the gospel with guards and fellow prisoners .
C. The apostle Paul found purpose in his imprisonment, sharing the gospel with guards and fellow prisoners .
David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.
D. David could have cowered down like all the other Israelite soldiers the day he heard the voice of Goliath!
D. David could have cowered down like all the other Israelite soldiers the day he heard the voice of Goliath!
1. David’s perspective was that of unwavering faith that God would prevail in this situation!
1. David’s perspective was that of unwavering faith that God would prevail in this situation!
2. This confidence in God came from previous experiences in David’s life.
2. This confidence in God came from previous experiences in David’s life.
i. The bear and the lion.
i. The bear and the lion.
And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
IV. Embracing God's Promises
IV. Embracing God's Promises
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
A. God works all things for the good of those who love Him.
A. God works all things for the good of those who love Him.
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
B. Trust in God's promise to be with us, to strengthen us, and to uphold us.
B. Trust in God's promise to be with us, to strengthen us, and to uphold us.
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
C. God's purpose and His promise are UNCHANGEABLE as an anchor for the soul.
C. God's purpose and His promise are UNCHANGEABLE as an anchor for the soul.
D. Share the parable of the two farmers who hear of impending rain. The one who prepares his fields is the one who truly believes in the promise.
D. Share the parable of the two farmers who hear of impending rain. The one who prepares his fields is the one who truly believes in the promise.
V. Transforming Through Christ
V. Transforming Through Christ
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
A. Through Christ's strength, we can endure and overcome our trials.
A. Through Christ's strength, we can endure and overcome our trials.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
B. The resurrection of Jesus symbolizes our transformation from victims into victors.
B. The resurrection of Jesus symbolizes our transformation from victims into victors.
VI. Building Resilience
VI. Building Resilience
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
A. Our trials reveal the life of Jesus in us and reminding us that we may be pressed, but we are not crushed.
A. Our trials reveal the life of Jesus in us and reminding us that we may be pressed, but we are not crushed.
B. Talk about the importance of resilience, and how our faith in God can give us the strength to withstand our trials.
B. Talk about the importance of resilience, and how our faith in God can give us the strength to withstand our trials.
And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return thither: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.
C. Job gave us an example of resilience and unwavering faith in God, even in suffering.
C. Job gave us an example of resilience and unwavering faith in God, even in suffering.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
D. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced a fiery furnace with unwavering faith.
D. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced a fiery furnace with unwavering faith.
1. These men stood on the promises of God’s commandment to not serve other God’s!
1. These men stood on the promises of God’s commandment to not serve other God’s!
2. God showed up and showed out in the fiery furnace even sending an angel to be with them in the fire! (It was not Jesus in the fiery furnace)
2. God showed up and showed out in the fiery furnace even sending an angel to be with them in the fire! (It was not Jesus in the fiery furnace)
VII. Embracing Trials as Growth Opportunities
VII. Embracing Trials as Growth Opportunities
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
A. Trials test our faith and produce perseverance, leading us to maturity.
A. Trials test our faith and produce perseverance, leading us to maturity.
B. James is encouraging us to view our trials as opportunities for growth, rather than as reasons for adopting a victim mentality.
B. James is encouraging us to view our trials as opportunities for growth, rather than as reasons for adopting a victim mentality.
VIII. Conclusion
VIII. Conclusion
A. Recap the main points: understanding the victim mentality, the power of perspective, embracing God's promises, transformation through Christ, building resilience, and embracing trials as growth opportunities.
A. Recap the main points: understanding the victim mentality, the power of perspective, embracing God's promises, transformation through Christ, building resilience, and embracing trials as growth opportunities.
B. It’s not the will of God that ANY of you should walk in defeat today! You should walk in confidence that God is with you.
B. It’s not the will of God that ANY of you should walk in defeat today! You should walk in confidence that God is with you.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
C. We can find peace in His Spirit!
C. We can find peace in His Spirit!
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.