Victors? or Victims?

Romans 8:33–37 ESV

33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

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Paul lists a number of different situations but also a decisive outcome.“More than conquerors” = to gain a decisive victory; vanquish totally; gain surpassing victory in every situation.

We are no longer victims to circumstances or tragedies – we are more than conquerors.God’s love expressed in our heart – the Love of the Father – frees us from victim-hood.

Victim Mentality is a Way of Seeing and Relating Victim is a person who is abused, hurt, or oppressed by another and is unable to break free.

Paralized by

Changing the past

If someone else would just do something

Physical handicap

Victim Mentality is a person who refuses to take responsibility for their life and blames others for what they are experiencing in life.

A way of thinking and interpreting life that comes from unresolved offences, grief, bitterness and heart beliefs.

“As a man thinks in his heart so he is”. ·

Example of Israel – Slaves in Egypt (victims under a harsh taskmaster) “The people complained against Moses”Their temporary hardship and difficulty caused their bitterness to show.They looked for someone to blame.The remedy – God revealed His Father’s Love that healed their situation.

Exodus 15:22–25 AV

22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

Complaining spirit

Murmuring

Looking for someone to blame instead of looking for God’s provision

Their temporary hardship and difficulty caused their bitterness to show.

They looked for someone to blame.

The remedy – God revealed His Father’s Love that healed their situation.

Exodus 16:1–3 ESV

1 They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

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Exodus 16:3 ESV

3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

Luke 15:25

Luke 15:25–31 ESV

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

Slaves in the Father’s house (slaves to the law)· “He was angry and would not go in”·

The elder son served – worked hard but had no revelation of the Father’s Love.·

He substituted works for relationship and believed he was right. · Personal example: Emotionally/relationally isolated – (past unresolved).

Worked hard to gain approval (heart belief).

Developed “Victim Mentality” in many areas of life. Journey of revelation of Father’s love and healing.

Key issues:– breaking patterns of isolating in pain and resolving heart pain. ·

Elder BrotherIsolated, Blamed, Justified self Bitterness, Closed spirit, Judged, Wrong beliefs ,Anger

3. Victim Mentality sabotages Relationships“Victims” interpret life/relationships through their heart’s bitterness (i) I am a victim = not my fault, hurt, I am right, withdraws

(ii) You are my persecutor = it is your fault, you are against me, attack

(iii) I need a rescuer = someone must come through for me, meet my needs· “Victims” are unable to develop emotional intimacy because they believe they are “unlovable”.· It is easier to play the role of the victim than to assume responsibility.· Note: A person with a victim mentality will play all

ii) Ownership of Pain and Vulnerability· There can be no freedom without responsibility·

What are the feelings?

What are the beliefs?·

What are the expectations?·

What events in the past have been some of these issues?

(iii) Ask the Holy Spirit to Uncover the Roots· Painful experiences that impact and how they relate?· Personal reactions – anger, bitterness, judgements?· Beliefs, expectations and inner vows formed in the heart.

(iv) Yield to the Holy Spirit’s direction on how to resolve them?·

vi) Practise Giving and Receiving Love· Refuse old patterns of isolating· Connect and practise giving and receiving love·

Romans 8:14–15 AV

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.