Victor or Victim?
December 7, 2014 Evening Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ.
Focus Passage: Romans 8:31-39
Supplemental Passage: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 NASB)
Introduction: Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: To choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's way. Viktor Frankl, concentration camp survivor.
The noted English architect Sir Christopher Wren was supervising the construction of a magnificent cathedral in London. A journalist thought it would be interesting to interview some of the workers, so he chose three and asked them this question, "What are you doing?" The first replied, "I'm cutting stone for 10 shillings a day." The next answered, "I'm putting in 10 hours a day on this job." But the third said, "I'm helping Sir Christopher Wren construct one of London's greatest cathedrals." Source Unknown.
I. Victim Mentality
a. No personal responsibility for actions
b. Slave to sin habits
c. Expectation of failure
II. Victor Mentality
a. Take personal responsibility for actions
i. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23 NASB)
b. Recognize that sin will not rule over you
i. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:14 NASB)
c. Expectation of God at work (to heal, to mend, to provide)
i. for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13 NASB)
Application/Invitation: We cannot blame our parents for our shortcomings as adults. We cannot blame the government for God being kicked out of our schools. We cannot blame McDonalds for being overweight. We cannot blame anyone else for our problems. We must take personal responsibility for them. Sometimes, we just need to build a bridge and get over something. Other times, we must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to see us through. But, no matter the case, we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ our Lord.
