We are Victors not Victims!

Do you believe the circumstances and people in your life are hurting you? Do you retaliate and find you cannot stop yourself? We all want our responses to be according to God's Word, but usually we respond based on our past experiences. All day, every day, we work to just keep our head up. Does this sound like you, working hard to keep from collapsing under the pressures of daily life? It is exhausting, isn’t it? Romans 12:2 says “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”

Think for a moment what it would be like to walk in the freedom Christ has given us as Victors not victims of people or circumstances. We do not have to work to be victorious, we work because we are victorious. We are Victors in Christ, we are His Beloved, and as washed, cleansed, new creatures in Christ we are not the victims of other people, Satan, or even God. Romans 4:17b says, "...the God who gives life to the dead calls things into being which do not yet exist." In that same chapter in Romans it tells us that Abraham did not waiver in his faith but was sure that God would do all He had promised. Be encouraged. God has given you Victory

  1. God is not surprised by any of the trials in your life. Lamentations 3:37 – “Can anything happen without the Lord’s permission?”
  2. Christ is our example in suffering and the purpose of our trials is to make us partners with Christ in His suffering. I Peter 2:21-25 – “This Suffering is all part of what God has called to. Christ, who suffered for you is your example. Follow in his steps. He never sinned, and he never deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted. When he suffered, he did not threaten to get even. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by his wounds! Once you were wandering like lost sheep. But now you have turned to the Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” I Peter 4:12-13 – “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering…”
  3. If we do not think according to God’s Word we are not going to act according to His Word. Proverbs 23:7 – As a man thinks in his mind, so he is, so he does.”
  4. Our sinful self is crucified with Christ, this means it is made inactive. Romans 6:6 "We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin."
  5. The work of the cross is complete and total. Romans 6:7-9 "For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him."
  6. When Jesus died on the cross, the old sinful nature was with Him. The power of sin is broken. Believe it by faith. Romans 6:10-11 "When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus."
  7. Because your sinful nature died on the cross you are free from legalism. Galatians 2:20 "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
  8. You don’t have to feel condemned because you do not pray enough, or read your Bible enough, or go to church enough. Psalms 34:5 "Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces."
  9. Call on God right now to help you believe His Truth. “Lord I understand. You told me that my old sinful nature was made inactive on the cross. I believe it and it is settled. With the spike of the Cross and the hammer of the Word, I nail it right there and walk away free.
  10. Remember everything starts in the mind; then actions follow, good or bad, depending on what you are thinking.
  11. Now ask God to begin to show you when you are listening to any other voice but His. Psalms 27:8 "My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”"
  12. You will be surprised when you realize that you are having conversations with yourself in your mind. Just ask God, “Lord, is this your voice I am hearing, or is this the voice of the old sinful nature?”
  13. Next, God desires for you to take those same conversations you are having with your sinful nature and turn them into a prayer to Him. You don’t have to worry about offending God…He wants you to be honest with Him. Psalm 51:6 "But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there."
  14. Jesus is our example. Mark 14:36-46. When Jesus prayed in the Garden he was completely honest with God. He prayed:
    “Abba Father” - that is intimacy
    “Nothing is too difficult” - that is acknowledgement of God’s power
    “Take this cup from me” - that is honesty
    “Not my will” - that is surrender and acceptance
    “But your will be done” – that is humility
  15. Jesus was not ashamed to ask God to take away something that was going to bring eternal life to the whole world because that his how he felt. But after he was honest with his Father and told Him all he was feeling Jesus surrendered to God’s will in humility. You have to notice that Jesus did not just ask God one time to take the cup from him…he asked him three times! When we do empty out our emotions to God, He follows right behind filling us with His Spirit. This allows us to face the trials and temptations of life.
  16. Right after Jesus poured his emotions out to God in the Garden he encountered many trials, and then the ultimate trial, the cross. He was able to respond to his accusers, his disciples, and even Pilate in the way he did because he had surrendered to God’s will.
  17. I Thessalonians 5:17 How do we pray without ceasing?
  18. Begin today to build on a solid foundation. Luke 6:46-49 We are not victims we are Victors. God wants Christians to get this message. When we understand it we can teach other believers to: