Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Email | RSS | More

I Am Strong!

This year our women’s ministry is going to have a theme.

Ephesians 6:10 Amplified Bible (AMP)

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] (repeat) and in the power of His [boundless] might.

This word “STRONG” is literally translated as “be empowered”

It encapsulates the idea that in Christ, we can do more than just “get by” and more than just survive.

Through Him we have endless power to be victorious and overcome every situation and circumstance.

David had the mind of the LORD:

Psalm 18:29New Living Translation (NLT)

In your strength I can crush an army;

   with my God I can scale any wall.

Imagine a young shepherd boy going against an enemy that was 14-16 ft in stature, a tried and true warrior soldier and all he had was a sling and a stone, but David had the mind and Spirit of the LORD.

A mindset that said, “This enemy is going down. This enemy will be defeated. You cannot stand against the army of the living God” These are his real words:

1 Samuel 17:45-47New King James Version (NKJV)

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

David had the mind of the LORD.

He talked the only talk that he knew- he talked of victory, he talked of power, he talked of strength

David had one song and he played it well- The LORD is my strength. Ps 27, 121

He knew the power of the LORD in Him. He walked in it. He talked of it. He lived out the power of the LORD in his life.

He didn’t fear.

He had a victorious mindset. He was not a victim.

Paul tells us that IF we are in the Spirit, we have access to the mind of Christ.

1 Cor 2:10-16 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy[d] Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?”[e] But we have the mind of Christ.

So, if we have access to the mind of Christ, why then do we not live it?

A few reasons:

WE HAVE A VICTIM MINDSET.

Victim mentality is an acquired (learned) personality trait in which a person tends to regard him or herself as a victim of the negative actions of others, and to think, speak and act as if that were the case — even in the absence of clear evidence. It depends on habitual thought processes and attribution. (attributing the cause to someone or something)

Did you hear that, it depends on HABITUAL thought processes– it’s the pity potty syndrome

Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I’m gonna eat some worms- I fall into this quite often.

It is said that the victim mentality develops as a result of emotional, physical, and other needs not having been met during childhood

Listen closely, one or several may apply to you- it is wrong thinking.

1. It is LEARNED, therefore must be UNLEARNED

The victim mentality is a learned and acquired behavior, which means that it does not have at its base in any biological or genetic workings. It’s something that the person has brought on due to constant churning and spinning of negative thoughts.

1. The Victim Believes She Has Been Wronged

In the true sense of the word, a victim is described as someone who has been harmed even though she was not responsible for the incident and could not prevent the same, and therefore, deserves empathy. People who have a victim mentality are always under the impression that they have been treated unfairly, and have been wronged against without any fault of theirs, even though there is clear evidence that proves that they were responsible (completely or partially) for what happened.

1. The Victim Believes She Has No Control Over Life

These people believe that they have no control over the outcome of anything, and they therefore shed responsibility too. When faced with any negativity or setbacks in life, they refuse to do something about it and move on; instead, they focus on the negative, play it over and over again in their heads, and thrive on the drama.

1. It Leads to ‘Believing in the Worst’

People who adopt a victim mentality are a classic example of pessimists, they look at every situation as a potential wet blanket. They also feel that the world is out to get them―even though there might be evidence pointing otherwise. They are the first ones to point out the possible negative outcomes of any new situation, and therefore, not only do they only refuse to try something new themselves, but they also discourage others with their constant negativity.

1. It is Rampant with Negative Emotions

The victim mentality leads to people constantly being guided by negative emotions like anger, fear, and sadness. There is always a suspicion about the intentions of people.

WE are not lead by our feelings or emotions- we are lead by the Holy Spirit!

1. The Victim Expects Sympathy

One of the main characteristics of this behavior is that the ‘victim’ expects sympathy for all the bad things that she has gone through. She wants the attention and constant validation from others that she has suffered a lot even though she did not deserve it, or how brave she is for having gone through so much and is still managing to go on in life.

1. The Victim Plays the Blame Game

At no point will the victim take responsibility for what she’s going through. Instead, she will shift the blame onto others and hold them responsible for all her ‘misfortunes’ and troubles.

1. The Victim is Stuck in a Self-pitying Mode

One of the most prominent signs displayed by a person with a victim mentality is playing the self-pitying role well. She believes that life has dealt her an unfair hand and is constantly seen lamenting with sentences like ‘Why me’. She also believes that others are luckier, happier, with better lives than her, and that she is suffering more than anyone else.

1. The Victim Spins Tales of Woe

In order to continue garnering sympathy and compassion, the victim begins to spin tales of woe. These may either be exaggerated versions of what really happened, or they might be downright lies. She needs to do this because she has gotten used to living in the shadow of sympathy, so she has to constantly spin better tales to elicit the same response from people. She also knows that in order to garner this sympathy, there needs to be a shock factor in her tales, which she works towards developing.

1. The Victim is Defensive

The victim develops a negative outlook, wherein she believes that everyone is out to get her and bring her down, such that whenever someone says something about her, no matter how neutral it is, she immediately attaches a negative connotation to it and goes on the defensive.

1. The Victim Puts Herself Down

The victim develops a tendency of putting herself down. Due to this self-abasing quality, he/she is low on confidence and self-esteem. She is also seen to commonly use terms like I can’t (negating one’s ability) and ‘I must’ (having no choice). Ex: my bio dad saw himself as a victim of his anxiety

1. The Victim Refuses to Analyze and Improve

When people around her notice her self-victimization tendencies and initiate ways to tell her about her self-harming ways, she refuses to analyze her actions and thereby fails to improve as well. Instead, not only does she go on the defensive and dismiss all the suggestions, she also develops a negative opinion about any person who suggests change.

1. The Victim has Passive-aggressive Tendencies

These people are extremely passive-aggressive in their dealings with others. Being low in confidence and having conditioned their minds to believe in things like ‘I can’t’ and ‘I have no choice’, they cannot express their anger in proper ways. As a result, they tend to sulk, withdraw, lie, make excuses, and purposely spoil a task.

1. The Victim Sets Herself Up for Failure

They are so self-defeating in their actions and words, it is almost as if these people are masochistic by nature, in that they thrive to hurt themselves. They will purposely get into situations that will lead to harm, and even though there are better choices to be made, it seems like they are putting themselves up for failure.

The victim sees themselves in  world that she is powerless is change HOWEVER–

The Spirit filled child of God is not a victim in a fallen world, but rather OVERWHELMINGLY MORE THAN A CONQUEROR through Jesus Christ!

This is going to take some work on your part (if there is any part of the victim mindset controls you).

I WAS a victim as a child. I was put through things that I could not avoid.

BUT when the Holy Spirit came I had to change

How are you talking?

Are you talking like you are victorious? Or are you talking like you are a defeated victim?

I ask this because words are powerful. Life and death

Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks- therefore what is in your heart?

THIS YEAR we will talk like we are victorious and like we can overcome ANYTHING and every situation by the strength of the LORD; AND we will hold one another accountable as sisters in Christ.

This requires a mind change- Romans tells us that we must be transformed by the renewing of our mind.

This way of thinking requires a new mind set, we must cast down the old thinking, these strongholds, and be renewed with the mind of Christ.

How do you tear down strongholds?

Since strongholds are built upon error and falsehood, it is through the truth that you tear down the victim thinking patterns. Strongholds are built when we accept and receive error and begin to meditate on them. It forms in our minds what is known as an imagination, that is, a false concept that we believe to be true, but in reality is not. The Bible speaks about these imaginations clearly, and shows us how they can be torn down:

2 Corinthians 10:4, “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

We know that strongholds and imaginations must be cast down, but how? By being transformed through the renewing of our minds:

Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

How are our minds renewed and cleansed? Through the washing of the Word our minds are transformed and strongholds are torn down. Spending time and meditating on the Word of God washes our minds and corrects our false victim thinking.

Ephesians 5:26-27, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

As we meditate and wash our minds with God’s Word, we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds, and we will come to know the will of God, and discern what is right, perfect and good. Our strongholds, which are based upon error and deception will not stand a chance as the light of God’s Word (truth) is shed upon those areas of our minds.

I wish I could make everyone go to Bible school. NOT SEMINARY, Bible school where we read and study the Word of God for 8 hours a day and I make you memorize it, quote it, write papers on it until it gets so in you that it becomes a part of you.

Ladies, if you want STRENGTH to overcome every situation, YOU  have to be FULL of God’s Word.

THIS is how I get by in life: the power of the Spirit and the Power of God’s Word.

THIS  is what David  and Paul knew.

I cannot tell you how many times I have had to preach and I was sick.

Just back in Dec. I preached on a Wed. night with fever and chills and went home and puked.

Since we started the church I’ve had 2 operations, several procedures, chemo on my skin for precancerous cells, and had my heart jumped, which now I am currently on aspirin and a beta blocker (A-fib).

I have raynauds disease, poor circulation and pain in my hands and feet, horrible allergies, sinus pain and pressure, migraine headaches and digestive issues IBS

BUT I never canceled my time to preach nor did I miss church.

My son was born on a Wednesday and I was in church on Sunday.

With My daughter was born on a Sunday and I was in church the following Sunday.

My home church in SA was 40 min away without traffic and I was there every Tues, Wed, Fri and twice on Sun. PLUS I worked full time and was in college.

I remember the death of my grandmother- she was the ONLY person in my life I could rely on. What was going to happen to me? MY plans for college? I RAN to the altar.

WHY???

BECAUSE MY STRENGTH COMES FROM THE LORD, not my flesh.

I do not always feel good. I am often tired or sick or just sick and tired. I have a family that I take care of and who rely on me PLUS a whole church that is relying on Pastor Matt’s and myself, which come with it the awesome responsibility of answering to God for every word I preach and teach.

You see the church NOW, but in the first 5 years Pastor and I did everything, every women’s and men’s events were in our home. The church revolved around us and our home and I am an introvert.

I had HUGE panic attacks, in and out of the ER and dr.’s, on and off meds, I had horrible panic and anxiety which led to horrible depression.

My back has gone out where I couldn’t walk for days

Let me not forgot the countless times people have falsely accused Matt and I and wrote us hate mail, cursing at us and calling us names and our children

I cannot boast of my faithfulness, but I did not quit because GOD IS FAITHFUL and He supplied my strength in the midst of my weaknesses.

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS! story behind the song Chisholm,  and he didn’t have the gov’t to take care of him

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”

 Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—

   “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!

2

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

3

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Paul said this

2 Corinthians 11:24-32New King James Version (NKJV)

From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.

Ladies, we have to stop making excuses.

Paul said he put no confidence in his flesh because the flesh is weak.

This is why we walk in the SPIRIT not in the flesh.

David didn’t look at the giant and say, “He’s too big and too strong. I can’t”

Jesus didn’t look at Lazarus and say, “He’s dead folks. Lets all go home.”

He said, “Lazarus come forth” I say unto you LIVE!

Do you look at your mountain and say, “It’s too big and too strong. I can’t”??

You have to TEAR DOWN STRONGHOLDS.

SPEAK to your mountains by faith!

I AM STRONG!

2 Corinthians 10:4, “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”