Listening to the Negative Message
THE SPIRIT OF DEFEAT
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is a two part lesson.
YOU CAN NEVER OVERCOME THE NEGATIVE, YOU MUST OVERWHELM
IT!
I. INTRODUCTION:
A. A BIG PART OF WINNING IN ANY GAME IS ATTITUDE.
I am told when a professional sports team is considering a player for their draft, many ideas
come into consideration. There is much more to consider than talent and ability to play.
The potential new player may have great naturalabilities but if he is lacking in some important areas the coach will pass.
I am told attitude is one of the greatest areas for the criteria considered. Does this potential player have a winning attitude? What will the players attitude be when the team loses?
Many are good players when they are winning but they come unglued when the team is loosing.
Will the new player be a team player? Will he blend in with the already existing team? Is this new player teachable? What are his work ethics? Will he learn and fit into our program?
B. I REFUSE TO GO ALONG WITH THE PROGRAM, I WILL TAKE MY BALL AND GO HOME.
Several years ago there came a great basketball player out of the mountains of eastern Kentucky. Todd May was one of the greatest high school players in the history of the state.
Todd was Mr. Kentucky Basketball his senior year. He was a great player.
He signed with the University of Kentucky and there was unlimited potential.
Todd May moved to Lexington. Todd and his mother had conflicts with the coaching staff almost immediately. Todd would criticize the coaching staff, he did not get to play as much as he had expected his freshman year. There were reports the May’s were not happy.
Soon Todd left UK and ended up at a little community college in eastern Kentucky that nobody heard of, Pikeville College? Todd played super, he would get 50 points a game playing against little nobodies.
Todd could have been a star for a national power house team, but he did not want to submit to the UK coaching staff and wait his turn. So the many sidebar issues caused the potential great player to move down. He was still a great player, but he never made the NBA’s as many had expected. A BIG PART OF WINNING IN ANY GAME IS ATTITUDE.
C. LET’S FORGET THIS FOOTBALL STUFF AND GO HOME?
My oldest son’s first football game as a starter as an eighth grader was very important.
The football games in the seventh and eighth grades are very hands on by the coach.
The Coach stayed on the field and gave detailed instructions to the players. Right before the first game my little eighth grade son came over to talk to me. He said to me, see that huge player, he is 6’2’’ and 270 pounds, and my son was 5’6’’and 130 pounds, he said Dad that is my man, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?
Later he came back and said Dad I saw him up close and he has a beard.
Fear started to root in my sons heart. YOU CAN’T PLAY THE GAME IN FEAR.
I stepped over to the side line, and I wanted to say to my son, let’s go home and forget this football stuff, but I did not say that.
I said, SON, ON THE KICKOFF FIND THAT BIG DUDE AND BLOCK HIM AS HARD AS YOU CAN. Let him think he was hit by a freight train.
The first set play knock him down as hard as you can. The second play, forget about the game, just throw the best block you can at him.
The whistle blew, the ball was kicked, and my son penned the big player on the field, the second play, my son hit that opponent like a freight train, that train hit him the next play.
On the fourth play the huge player stayed on the sideline. And when he returned to the game,he lined up straight across from my son, and he would move out of the way to avoid being blocked.
My son played football five years. He was smaller than most players. He had many learning experiences playing the game.
I remember the first night my son ran the football across the goal line for a touch down, and as I sat way up in the stands, I remembered that big dude and how my son stood firm and faced his giant.
My son won several football awards, but it all went back to that first game facing a player twice his size.
We need to establish the attitude for the team, WE ARE GOING TO PLAY A GOOD GAME!
II. MANY PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE LOST THE BATTLE BEFORE THEIR FEET TOUCHED THE BATTLE GROUND.
A. Losers never learn that sometimes the worst thing that can happen to you may be the best thing that could ever happen to you.
B. Losers seldom seem to realize, it gets pretty dark before it gets light.
C. Obstacles and opposition are nothing but opportunities for you and for God.
III. 10 MEN SEEMED TO CARRY THE SPIRIT OF DEFEAT! 10 MEN PASS THIS NEGATIVE SPIRIT TO MANY OTHERS.
In Numbers 13: 1-16 Moses hand picked 12 men, one man from each tribe of Israel.
A. Ever heard of:
1. Shaphat,
2. Igal,
3. Palti,
4.Gaddiel,
5. Gaddi,
6. Ammiel, 10 HAD A SPIRIT OF DEFEAT!
7. Sethur,
8. Nahbi,
9. Geuel
10. Shammua
B. Seems we only know two names.
11. CALEB
12. JOSHUA TWO HAD A SPIRIT OF VICTORY
C. THERE IS GREAT POWER IN THE NEGATIVE.
IT IS JUST AS GOD PROMISED ---- BUT WE ARE DEFEATED...
Numbers 13:27 And they told Moses, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
D. NEVERTHELESS --- WE CAN’T, GOD CAN’T...
Numbers 13: 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land,and the cities are walled, and very great: moreover we saw the children of the Anak there. (We saw the GIANTS!)
E. NEGATIVE MESSAGE BECOMES SELF PROPHESY!
Numbers 13:31 But the men that went up with Caleb said:
WE BE NOT ABLE TO GO UP AGAINST THE PEOPLE; FOR THEY ARE STRONGER THAN WE.
F. IT IS NOT THE STRENGTH OF THE ENEMY, IT IS THE ATTITUDE OF THE DEFEATED.
FOCUS BIG ON THE BIG AND LITTLE ON THE BIG?
Numbers 13:32 And they brought up an EVIL REPORT of the land which they had searched... AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE SAW IN IT ARE MEN OF GREAT STATURE.
History records that less than 2% of the people they observed were BIG PEOPLE!
G. DEFEATIST PROJECTION!
Numbers 13:33 And there we saw the GIANTS, THE SONS OF THE ANAK, WHICH CAME OF GIANTS: : and we were IN OUR OWN SIGHT AS GRASSHOPPERS, AND SO WE ARE IN THEIR SIGHT.
H. WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE CAST A VISION OF FEAR, DEFEAT FOLLOWS!
Numbers 14:1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and CRIED; and the PEOPLE WEPT THAT NIGHT.
I. DEFEATIST ALWAYS UNDERMINE AUTHORITY AND SECOND GUESS THEIR LEADERS.
Numbers 14: 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron.
THE WHOLE CONGREGATION SAID UNTO THEM, WOULD TO GOD THAT WE HAD DIED IN THE LAND OF EGYPT! or would God we had died in the wilderness.
J. MAN ELECTED LEADERSHIP? MAJORITY RULE IS OK?
Numbers 14: 4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return to Egypt.
K. DEFEATED PEOPLE TRY THE WORK OF GOD IN THE FLESH.
After all the defeatist attitude the people decide, we will go ahead and do it, regardless of Moses warning. They decided to go without God.
Numbers 14: 40 Lo, we be here and now we will go up unto the place which the Lord hath promised...
Numbers 14: 42 Moses clearly warns them: Go not up. FOR THE LORD IS NOT AMONG YOU.
Numbers 14:44 But they presumed to go up unto the hill top, nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the Lord and Moses departed not out of the camp.
IV. WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE ACCEPT DEFEAT AS THEIR STANDARD,
MANY TEARS ARE AHEAD.
A. King Saul seemed to feast on the negative.
I Samuel 17: 11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, THEY WERE DISMAYED AND GREATLY AFRAID.
B. NEGATIVE RE-ENFORCEMENT ESTABLISHES A HABIT OF FEAR!
I Samuel 17: 16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
80 negative messages grow in the spirit man.
One negative man held at bay an entire army for 40 days?
C. ANGER IS A MARK OF A DEFEATED ATTITUDE!
I Samuel 17: 28 And Eliab David’s oldest brother heard when David spoke to the men, and Eliab’s ANGER WAS KINDLED AGAINST DAVID, and Eliab said, Why camest down hither? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart: for thou ART COME DOWN THAT MIGHTEST SEE THE BATTLE.
D. WELL, ELIAB THERE IS NO BATTLE TO SEE, 40 DAYS, 80 MESSAGES HAS YOU CRYING IN YOUR TENT? ELIAB IS A DISCOURAGING VOICE TO DAVID’S WORK!
I Samuel 17: 32 And David said to Saul, LET NO MAN’S HEART FAIL BECAUSE OF GOLITAH, Thy servant will go down and fight with this Philistine.
E. THE LAST NEGATIVE MESSAGE OF GOLIATH! SOMEONE SAID:
THIS IS ENOUGH, NO MORE!
I Samuel 17: 43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give your flesh unto the fowls of the air and the beast of the field.
45. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: BUT I COME TO THEE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD WHO THOU HAST DEFIED.
46. THIS DAY WILL THE LORD DELIVER THEE INTO MINE HAND, I WILL SMITE THEE, I WILL TAKE YOUR HEAD FROM THEE ...
V. GEHAZI AND ELISHA FACE THE SAME ENEMY THE SAME DAY,
THEIR ATTITUDES DIFFER GREATLY! ONE MOVES IN DEFEAT, THE OTHER MOVES IN VICTORY.
A. THE ENEMY COMES IN DURING THE COVER OF DARKNESS.
11 Kings 6: 14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
B. FEAR COMES TO THE SERVANT OF THE LORD, WHEN HE SEES
THE ENEMY.
II Kings 6: 15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth,behold a host compassed the city both with horses and with chariots.
And his servant said unto him. ALAS MY MASTER! HOW SHALL WE DO?
C. THE ATTITUDE DETERMINES THE RELEASE OF FEAR OR THE
RELEASE OF FAITH
II Kings 6: And Elisha answered, FEAR NOT: FOR THEY THAT BE WITH US ARE MORE THAN THEY THAT BE WITH THEM.
D. WE MUST OPEN THE EYES OF THE SPIRIT
II 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: the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
E. TOTAL VICTORY MUST CLOSE THE EYES OF THE FLESH.
II Kings 6: And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And God smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
Elisha did not move in fear toward defeat, he stepped toward victory with a FAITH ATTITUDE.
F. SHALL WE SMITE OUR ENEMY WHILE WE HAVE THEM CORNERED?
There is a logical question to what to do with the enemy?
II Kings 6:21 My father, shall I smite them? Shall I smite them?
It would be very easy to chop off the heads of your blind enemies?
But the next generation would come to you in hate and revenge.
You have a defeated attitude when you want to take revenge into your hands.
G. TO DEFEAT YOUR ENEMY IN A WISE MANNER, FEED THEM AND BLESS THEM.
II Kings 6: 22 And Elisha answered, THOU SHALT NOT SMITE THEM, --- SET BREAD AND WATER BEFORE THEM THAT THEY MAY EAT AND DRINK
AND GO BACK HOME TO THEIR MASTER.
H. NOT ONLY A TODAY VICTORY BUT A VICTORY FOR TOMORROW!
II Kings 6:23 And he prepared great provision for them; and when they had eaten and drunk, Elisha sent them away, and they went to their master.SO THE BANDS OF SYRIA CAME NO MORE INTO THE LAND OF ISRAEL.
TO DEFEAT AN ENEMY MAKE HIM YOUR FRIEND!!!
VI. VICTORY - OVERCOMED OR OVERCOMERS....
1 Cor. 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
A. Sometimes you can lose a battle but still have the victory!
B. When a Hawk is attacked by Crows, the hawk does not counter-attack, he soars higher and higher, larger circles - UNTIL HIS TORMENTORS LEAVE HIM ALONE ....
C. So we overcome by Higher plane Communion, waiting on him in prayer DAILY RENEWAL STRENGTH
1 Cor. 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Jesus faced four major battles - 4 major victories!
VI. BATTLEGROUND - THE WILDERNESS
Matthew 4
A. Fasted - 40 Days - Hungry - self-indulgence - vs. 3-4
Lust, Flesh, Trust In Flesh - Make Bread Stone -
Can not Live By Bread
B. Pinnacle - Temple - high place
Religion - Lust, eye
Cast thyself down - Not tempt God
Vs. 6-7
C. Mountain - offer Kingdom/World (Lust/Pride)
Worship God alone Vs. 9-10
VII BATTLEGROUND OF GETHSEMANE - MATTHEW 26
A. By Petition/Prayer
B. Watchfulness
Mat. 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
C. Submission
Mat. 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
VIII. BATTLEGROUND OF CROSS
Resist the devil - He will fly at us
Submit yourself - Satan flies from us
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
A. Sacrifice
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
B. Love/Compassion
C. Suffering
11 Tim. 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.
IX. BATTLE OF TOMB
1 Cor. 15:15-18 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ; whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16: For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18: Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
A. Victory over:
1. Devil
2. Flesh
3. Sin
4. Disease
5. Death
6. Hell
B. Martin Luther seemed to be proned to depression -
once when he was in a fiery trial.
Once in one of these dark times, Cathy, his wife, dressed in black "God is dead?" she said.
Martin "Nonsense, woman, God lives"!
Cathy replied, "If you believe God is living, act like it! Live like it!"
VICTORY THAT OVERCOMERS
1 John 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the
victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5: Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Overcome
1. Faith
2. Believe
We must rise above all our troubles, trials, and obstacles and step above the spirit of defeat. God has a plan of deliverance for you!
Hang in there! Hold on! Try again! Maybe today!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Could you join my team and partner with me? Could you pass this on to others?
