BITTER OR BETTER! HOW TO PLAY THE ROLE OF VICTIM?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Watch YouTube: Wade Hughes) Two part lesson.
WE HAVE CHOICES BEFORE US. ONE IMPORTANT CHOICE IS TO BE BITTER OR BETTER? VICTIM OR VICTOR?
2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
VICTIM: To endure hardships and distress. One that suffers, one that is continually enduring or undergoing inconvenience or loss, a harmed person, hurt, injuried, afflicted, to be defeated,
VICTOR: winner, overcomer, to defeat opponent, success, triumph.
BITTER: disagreeable, harsh, cynical, negative, moody.
BETTER: improved, recovered, effective, complete, excel, superior.
ELIJAH ARE YOU A VICTIM? YOU SHOULD BE! ELIJAH: THE JUNIPER TREE EXPERIENCE… VICTIM.
Of all times to be called of God was during one of the worse King and Queen in Israel’s history. Ahab and Jezebel are pure evil. JEZEBEL had NABBOTH KILLED. There is a drought going on that was terrible. Ahab blames ELIJAH FOR THE DROUGHT. Jezebel vows to kill Elijah before the sun goes down? Elijah runs for his life. SOUNDS LIKE A VICTIM TO ME. ELIJAH RUNS FOR HIS LIFE: UNCLEAN BIRDS BRING HIM FOOD. Talk victim the BROOK GOES DRY! There is a DIVINE CHALLENGE, 450 FALSE PROPHETS AGAINST 1 MAN.
ELIJAH IS DISCOURAGED, DEPRESSED, EXHAUSTED AND READY TO DIE… VICTIM? NO, 40 DAYS OF A MIRACLE. GOD HAS A SECOND TOUCH.
1 Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. 8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
ELIJAH ARE YOU A VICTIM? ARE YOU BITTER OR BETTER? GOD SENDS HIS PERSOANAL CHAUFFEUR AND LIMOUSENE TO BRING ELIJAH TO SPEND THE DAY WITH GOD. VICTOR!
2 Kings 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
DON’T FORGET ELIJAH SPENT A DAY IN JERUSALEM WITH MOSES AND JESUS.
Matthew 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
ELISHA: ARE YOU A VICTIM? Absolutely not! ELISHA LIVED A TRIUMPHANT LIFE. There is no record of ELISHA ever being depressed, discouraged or complaining. ELISHA never ran away!
2 Kings 2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
Even on his death bed, ELISHA GOES OUT IN VICTORY. In the history of prophets ELISHA preformed more miracles than any other prophet except MOSES.
GEHAZI: GEHAZI IS TO BE THE NEXT PROPHET OF GOD… HE FOLLOWS ELIJAH AND ELISHA. HE IS TRAINING TO BE A GREAT MAN. GEHAZI HAS GREAT POTENTIAL TO BE BETTER. Gehazi has seen miracle after miracle. Gehazi allows his emotions and eyes to dictate the moods of his spirit. GEHAZI FOCUSES ON THE PROBLEMS. Gehazi’s eyes see the ENEMY. HE LISTENS TO THE RUMORS. HE LOOSES SLEEP. GEHAZI HAS LITTLE TO NO HOPE. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
2 Kings 6:14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
ELISHA SPEAKS WORDS OF FAITH. CAN WE SEE THE VICTIM SPIRIT THRIVING IN GEHAZI? ELISHA WARNS HIM. VICTORS SPEAK FAITH WORDS.
2 Kings 6:16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
THE VOICE OF VICTORY SAYS: SETTLE DOWN. GEHAZI, WILL YOU BELIEVE YOUR EYES OR YOUR FAITH? OPEN YOUR EYES. THE WORDS OF FAITH RELEASES A NEW VISION.
2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
A VICTIM SPIRIT LONGS FOR REVENGE TO GET EVEN. THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY! GEHAZI, YOU ARE NOT A VICTIM!
2 Kings 6:21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
THE VICTIM SPIRIT IS REVEALED IN GEHAZI’S HEART. NAAMAM WILL REVEAL TO GEHAZI HIS REAL HEART. GEHAZI THINKS MINISTRY OWES HIM.
2 Kings 5:211 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
NAAMAN HAS AN OFFERING OF $100,000 IN CASH AND 10 FANCY SUITS. GEHAZI SAYS: NAAMAN IS RICH, HE CAN AFFORD TO GIVE THIS TO US. GEHAZI DOES NOT WANT TO SEEM GREEDY, SO HE RUNS AFTER NAAMAN AND MAKES A COUNTER OFFER. WE WILL TAKE $2,000 BUCKS AND 2 SUITS.
The VICTIM SPIRIT SAYS: OK, WE WILL TAKE $4,000 BUCKS AND 2 SUITS. Gehazi will hide his sin?
2 Kings 5:24 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
HIS HIDDEN SIN IS REVEALED… GEHAZI FELT LIKE HE DESERVED MORE THAN HE WAS GETTING. THE VICTIM SPIRIT THRIVES.
2 Kings 5:25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
GEHAZI, WHAT A WONDERFUL FUTURE YOU HAD. YOU WALKED IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ELIJAH AND ELISHA. NOW WHAT HAS THE VICTIM SPIRIT EARNED YOU? YOUR ATTITUDES? YOUR WORDS? YOUR ACTIONS WILL COST YOUR WHOLE FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS.
2 Kings 5:27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
EVERY BELIEVER IS OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT THE ATTITUDE OF VICTIM OR VICTOR. LET US LOOK AT JOB: We might count JOB one of the major victims of the Bible. He was a good man that suffered physical, mental loss.
DESPITE BEING TRAPPED AS A VICTIM. Even JOB’s wife considered THEM A VICTIM. HONEY, WE ARE NOT VICTIMS.
Job 2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
JOB HAD HOPE.
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
JOSEPH HAD EVERY RIGHT TO ACCEPT THE ROLE OF VICTIM. IT APPEARS JOSEPH IS A VICTIM. Joseph was hated by his brothers. Thrown into the PIT. Joseph was sold to slave traders. Joseph was sold to Potiphar. He was falsely accused of rape. Thrown into prison. Forgotten to rot in jail.
Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
The victim spirit was not tolerated in Joseph life. Joseph was promoted: HE WAS NOT A VICTIM--- JOSEPH WAS A VICTOR.
IT APPEARS DAVID WAS A VICTIM… Everyone saw David as poor shepherd boy. When they had a party at the house David was not even invited. David had the menial job of carrying cheese and bread to his warrior brothers. King Saul persecuted him. Tamar was raped by her brother. Absalom kills his brother in revenge. Absalom revolts against his dad and even takes his dad’s wife to the roof top and has sex out in the open for all to see. David goes to the funeral home several times in his life. David returns to ZIGLAG to find everything is destroyed and lost.
Psalm 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
David is not a VICTIM… HE IS A VICTOR. DAVID LEARNS THE VALUE OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLES AND TRIALS.
Psalm 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
DAVID NEVER ACCEPTED A VICTIM SPIRIT. DAVID LEARNED TO TRUST GOD, WORSHIP AND TO PRAISE. DAVID IS CONSIDERED A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART. David refused the bad attitude of being a victim.
1 Samuel 13:14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
CONCLUSION: The Bible teaches us that bad things happen to good people. We must refuse to play the role of VICTIMAZATION. Test, trials and burdens are stepping stones to push us to spiritual growth and to prove our faith.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW NEGATIVE THINGS TO BIRTH IN US NEGATIVE SPIRITS. BAD THINGS CAN NOT BE AVOIDED. THEY ARE INEVITABLE. GOD HAS A WONDERFUL PLAN. God desires us to take BAD STUFF AND GROW. This storm, this trial, and this BAD STUFF could teach us to be better, not bitter.
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
BITTER? BETTER? WE MUST REFUSE THIS BITTERNESS. WE NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED AND TO BE AGENTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. BETTER COMES BY REACHING TO GREATER DEPTHS OF PATIENCE, TRUST, PRAISE, AND ENDURANCE.
Dear friends we are not victims. We must refuse BITTER. God’s plan is for us to be VICTORS making the choice of BETTER.
I hate to hear: nobody loves me, no body appreciates me. Everything is so hard? GET REAL, WE ARE BLESSED.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfinggers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) Two part lesson
