Sermon Central
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Contrasting A Defeatist Versus An Overcomer's Attitude
Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000 (message contributor)
Summary: As pressed but not crushed, as perplexed but not in despair, as persecuted, but not abandoned, as put down but not put out. Always carrying about in our body the death of the Lord Jesus that the life of Christ may be made manifested in our body. (2 Cor. 4
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom. 12:21)
I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power. (Phil. 4:13)
Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. (I John 5:4,5)
As unknown, yet well known, as dying yet behold we live as sorrowful yet always rejoicing. As poor yet, making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things. (2 Cor. 6)
As pressed but not crushed, as perplexed but not in despair, as persecuted, but not abandoned, as put down but not put out. Always carrying about in our body the death of the Lord Jesus that the life of Christ may be made manifested in our body. (2 Cor. 4:4-8)
Defeatist Attitudes
* Nobody cares about me and my problems
* Everybody seems to be against me
* I am worried that nothing will work out right
* I am suspicious of others who are against me
* Woe is me. Gloom and doom is all around me
* Life is so hard and I feel so alone
* Why can’t I get the breaks like other people
* Nobody ever seems to see things from my perspective
* I feel so nervous and full of anxiety I am afraid I will have a nervous breakdown
* I cannot seem to overcome my lusts
* I cannot seem to control my anger and feelings of frustration
* I have responsibilities that I cannot seem to handle
* I sometimes feel that my efforts are futile
* I seemed to always be misunderstood
* I sometimes feel prejudicial to my own people
* I sometimes feel enslaved to my own sins
* I sometimes criticize people too much
* Some people defame me and try to belittle me
* Sometimes I exaggerate to get peoples’ attention
* Sometimes I get so cynical I have a hard time seeing anything positive
* Sometimes I feel like I could do something better somewhere else with other people
* Sometimes I feel that my life has no real significance
Overcoming Attitudes
* Nothing can separate me from Christ’s love
* If God is for us who can be against us
* I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power
* I believe the best in every person until proven otherwise
* Faith is the victory that overcomes the world
* I will never desert you or forsake you so that you can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper. From whom then shall I be afraid."
* God works all things together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes
* Do not look out for your own interests but also for the interests of others.
* Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus
* Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God that passes all comprehension will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus
* Love not the world or the things that are in the world. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not from the Father, but is from the world
* Be angry, but do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger
* Casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you
* Be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord
* If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men generously and without reserve
* There is no partiality with God
* Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ
* Do all things without complaining or murmuring so that you can be children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked a perverse generation
* The Lord your God is in your midst. He will save, He will rejoice over you with love. He will gain the victory
* Speaking the truth in love let us grow up into all aspects into Him who is the Head, even Christ
* Love believes all things, endures all things, hope all things. Love outlasts anything
* Commit your way to the Lord, delight yourself in Him, trust also in Him and He will bring things to completion
* Whatever you sow that you will also reap
