Victor
or Victim?
By Bart Nelson
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Partaking of the media
these days, one is assaulted with multitudes that have a victim’s mentality.
One’s life is everyone else’s fault. The world, or at least someone with deep
pockets, owes the victim. I know, I know, one has to be careful, because there
truly are victims who deserve to be
recompensed. But taken to today’s extreme, all of us have been wronged
somewhere! Who can take responsibility for that?
There’s a song by The Eagles entitled, ‘Get Over It’ that addresses this issue. I really like the lyric:
I turn on the tube and what do I see A whole lotta people cryin' 'Don't blame me' They point their crooked little fingers at everybody else Spend all their time feelin' sorry for themselves Victim of this, victim of that Your momma's too thin; your daddy's too fat Get over it Get over it All this whinin' and cryin' and pitchin' a fit Get over it, get over it You say you haven't been the same since you had your little crash But you might feel better if I gave you some cash The more I think about it, Old Billy was right Let's kill all the lawyers, kill 'em tonight You don't want to work, you want to live like a king But the big, bad world doesn't owe you a thing Get over it Get over it If you don't want to play, then you might as well split Get over it, Get over it It's like going to confession every time I hear you speak You're makin' the most of your losin' streak Some call it sick, but I call it weak You drag it around like a ball and chain You wallow in the guilt; you wallow in the pain You wave it like a flag, you wear it like a crown Got your mind in the gutter, bringin' everybody down Complain about the present and blame it on the past I'd like to find your inner child and kick its little *** Get over it Get over it All this whinin' and cryin' and pitchin' a fit Get over it, get over it Get over it Get over it It's gotta stop sometime, so why don't you quit
Get
over it, get over it
I probably shouldn’t
admit to liking those words or even knowing they exist, but I do. Thank God, He
is more merciful towards us and doesn’t mind hearing us, as long as we move on
and don’t get stuck. Rather than just telling us to get over it, He does it one
better, He pays for and reveals to us the way out of being the victim and into
becoming a victor. Did you know the Bible speaks to that? Yes, there was a
victim’s mentality in the Word of God as well. But the word shows us a higher
road, that of being a victor over our
circumstances. If I haven’t offended you too much yet, let’s see what His word
has to say…
Num. 13.30 Then
Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take
possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” 31 But the men who had gone
up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are
stronger than we.” 32 And they gave the children of
Num. 14.3 Why has
the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and
children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to
1 Sam. 7.7 Now
when the Philistines heard that the children of
2 Sam. 23.9 And
after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they
defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of
Israel had retreated. 10 He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand
was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great
victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder. 11 And
after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a
troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled
from the Philistines. 12 But he stationed himself in the middle of the field,
defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great
victory. Victory comes to those who
continue to fight long after they are weary. God provides the victory, but He
often waits until someone is persistent enough to win it!
2 Kin. 21.14 So I
will forsake the remnant of My inheritance and deliver them into the hand of
their enemies; and they shall become victims of plunder to all their enemies,
15 because they have done evil in My sight, and have provoked Me to anger since
the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.’ ” The main key to living in victory is being
on God’s side, not Him being on yours. This and the following verses illustrate
that. 1 Chron. 29.11 Yours, O Lord, is the
greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that
is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are
exalted as head over all. The victory is
God’s, not ours. If we belong to God and are on His side, then we can share in
His victory! Ps. 41.11 By this I know that You delight in me, because my
enemy does not triumph over me. Ps. 44.4 You are my King, O God; command
victories for Jacob. 5 Through You we will push down our enemies; through Your
name we will trample those who rise up against us. Ps. 76.5-9 The stouthearted
have been stripped; they slept their sleep; and none of the men of might have
found their hands. By Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the horse and the
chariot have sunk into a sleep. You, even You, are terrifying, and who can
stand when once You are angry? You cause judgment to be heard from Heaven; the
earth feared and was still, when God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of
the earth. Lk. 11.17 But He, knowing their thoughts,
said to them: “Every kingdom divided
against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house
falls. 18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?
Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. 19 And if I cast out demons by
Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your
judges. 20 But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the
Ps. 47.1 Clap
your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with the voice of triumph. Ps. 60.8
Ps. 98.1 Oh, sing
to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and
His holy arm have gained Him the victory. God
is intimately involved in our victory, He doesn’t take it lightly. Mt.
12.19 He will not quarrel nor cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the
streets. 20 A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not
quench, till He sends forth justice to victory; 21 And in His name Gentiles
will trust.”
Lk. 11.24 “When an unclean spirit goes out
of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says,
‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when he comes, he finds
it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes and takes with him seven other
spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last
state of that man is worse than the first.” There is a key principle here. Once the enemy is vanquished, we need to
fill up with the Holy Spirit and spiritual things. We don’t want him to come
back with seven of his stronger buddies! Rom. 12.21 Do not be overcome by
evil, but overcome evil with good.
Jn. 16.33 These things I have spoken to you,
that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be
of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Often, our idea of an overcoming peace is
tranquility, absence of strife. God’s
idea is peace in the midst of the
storm, overcoming even though everything is falling apart around us.
1 Cor. 9.24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all
run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25
And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do
it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore
I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have
preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. Phil. 3.7 But what
things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I
also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus
my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish,
that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness,
which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the
righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power
of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to
His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on,
that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things
which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of
God in Christ Jesus. Heb. 12.1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so
great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so
easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before
us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy
that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God.
2 Tim. 4.6-8 For I am already being poured out, and the time of my
release is here. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I
have kept the faith. Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that Day; and not to me
only, but also to all those who love His appearing. Paul wrote a lot about winning and doing what was needed in order to do
so. Temperance, forgetting the past and stretching towards the goal, laying
aside unnecessary weights and focusing on Jesus and fighting the good fight
were what he preached and what we need to do in order to not to be victims but
victors!
1 Cor. 15.53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption,
and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on
incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to
pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O
Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of
death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who
gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved
brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Because God and we through Him will have the ultimate victory over
death, we need to be busy about the Father’s business. 2 Cor. 2.14 Now thanks be to God, who always causes us to
triumph in Christ, and He revealing through us the odor of the knowledge of Him
in every place.
Let’s read some excerpts from 2 Cor. to see what Paul lived through…2 Cor. 1.3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies
and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may
be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we
our-selves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in
us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted,
it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the
same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your
consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know
that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the
consolation. 8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble
which came to us in
Having reviewed this about Paul, let’s see
what he preached. Let’s see if we see a victim’s attitude. (We’ve already
quoted some verses above, and there’s no evidence yet.) Eph. 5.18-20 And do not be drunk with
wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your
heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things to God the Father in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I don’t
see any victim here. Phil. 4.4-13 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say,
Rejoice! Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Do not
be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God
which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest,
whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are
lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there
is any praise, think on these things. Do those things which you have also
learned and received and heard and seen in me. And the God of peace shall be
with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of
me has flourished again. Although you indeed did think, but you lacked
opportunity. Not that I speak according to need, for I have learned to be
content in whatever state I am. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to
abound. In everything and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to
be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me. Nope, no
whining in this letter. 1 Thes. 5.11-24 Therefore comfort one another, and edify one
another, even as you also do. And, brothers, we beseech you to know those who
labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and who admonish you, and to
esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among
yourselves. Now we exhort you, brothers, warn those who are unruly, comfort the
faint-hearted, support the weak, be patient toward all. See that none gives
evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue the good, both towards one another
and towards all. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give
thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Do not
quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophesying. Prove all things, hold fast to
the good. Abstain from every appearance of evil. And may the God of peace
Himself sanctify you, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved
blamelessly at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who called
you, who also will do it. Nothing here…In
fact, what we see in all Paul’s letters are attitudes that will help us be
victors rather than victims. Being thankful for everything that comes our way,
praising and rejoicing in our God, not murmuring or complaining but being
content, praying about everything, thinking only about the positive, etc. these
things will make us victors in every circumstance we find ourselves.
Eph. 6.10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles
of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take
up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand. God has
done all, once we’ve done all, all that’s left for us to do is stand. We must
remember that we don’t wrestle against God, people or even ourselves, we
wrestle against our enemy.
2 Pet. 2.19 While
they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by
whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. If there is anything in our lives that
overcomes us and we are not master over it with Holy Spirit’s help, we are in bondage
to that thing. We need to seek deliverance from it!
John outlines for us what Jesus says about the overcoming life in the
end times. Read the following 2 chapters for that outline. The italicized
areas are things we are to avoid, while bolded areas are actions we are to
embrace.
v
Rev. 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus
write; These things says he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who
walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know your works,
and your labor, and your patience, and how you can not bear them which are
evil: and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and
have found them liars: 3 And have borne, and have patience, and for my name's
sake have labored, and have not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat
against you, because you have left your first love. 5 Remember
therefore from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works;
or else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of
his place, except you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds
of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He
that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; To him
that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the
midst of the paradise of God. God does see the good we're doing, but also
notices the lack. Holy Spirit will show us when we are messing up! This church
left its first love, implying it wasn't an accident, but a choice. Ouch! We
need to look and see if we have fallen behind in our zeal for the Lord and
repent if we have. In each of these seven letters, we are told that if
we have spiritual ears, to hear and overcome. Are we listening? Are we
overcoming?
v
Rev. 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in
Smyrna write; These things says the first and the last, which was dead, and is
alive 9 I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you are rich)
and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are
the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which you shall suffer:
behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried;
and you shall have tribulation ten days: be faithful unto death, and I will
give you a crown of life. 11 He that has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says unto the churches; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the
second death. Suffering is our lot as Christians. We're not to fear it,
because what can really hurt us can't touch us!
v
Rev. 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things says he which has the sharp
sword with two edges 13 I know your works, and where you dwell, even
where Satan's seat is: and you hold fast my name, and have not denied my
faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who
was slain among you, where Satan dwells 14 But I have a few things against you,
because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling-block before the children of
Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So
have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans,
which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto you quickly, and
will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He that has an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; To him that overcomes
will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in
the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it. God
wants us faithful and not to tolerate teaching that has a mixture. The Nicolaitans mean Nico=above laita=laity. They taught a hierarchy in the church, much
like some churches do today. We are all priests to our God, one is not above
the other.
v
Rev. 2:18 And unto the angel of the church in
Thyatira write; These things says the Son of God, who has his eyes like unto a
flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19 I know your works, and
charity, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your works; and
the last to be more than the first. 20 Notwithstanding I have a few
things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls
herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication,
and to eat things sacrificed unto idols 21 And I gave her space to repent
of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a
bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they
repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the
churches shall know that I am he which searches the reins and hearts: and I
will give unto every one of you according to your works. 24 But unto you I say,
and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which
have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you no
other burden. 25 But that which you have already hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I
give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as
the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of
my Father 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He that has an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. A Jezebel spirit,
according to this scripture, comes in as a false prophet proclaiming
fornication and idol attachment. The forms of these things can be quite varied,
for example in addition to sexual fornication, there is spiritual fornication,
where we love anything else more than the Lord. That could be
tradition, buildings, style, etc. Idolatry is equated with greed in the word.
So the application and the warning about Jezebel is vast. Also, Jezebel was a
domineering woman in the word, over the Lord, the prophets and her husband. It
has been said that the only way for a Jezebel to exist is for an Ahab -- a weak
leader, to exist as well.
v
Rev. 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in
Sardis write; These things says he that has the seven Spirits of God, and the
seven stars; I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are
dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are
ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3
Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.
If therefore you do not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you
shall not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in
v
3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia
write; These things says he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key
of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens 8 I
know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can
shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not
denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which
say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come
and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you 10 Because you
have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of
temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon
the earth 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which you have, that
no man take your crown. 12 Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in
the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him
the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem,
which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new
name 13 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the
churches. This is the only church without a rebuke! At least not a
strong, direct one. They were told they had a little strength. They kept His
word and did not deny His name. The only instruction was to hold fast what they
had. Lord, let that be us!
v
Rev. 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things says the Amen, the faithful
and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know your
works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. 16 So
then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of
my mouth. 17 Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have
need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor,
and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the
fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and
that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with
eye-salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be
zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:
if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will
sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcomes will I grant
to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my
Father in his throne. 22 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
says unto the churches. (This next part is borrowed from Bill Gothard.) Think about your life with God right now. How
would you rate yourself your love and your works for Him, from 1-9.
Freezing, ice cold -- 1
Cold -- 2
Chilly -- 3
Cool -- 4
Neutral -- 5
Warm -- 6
Heating up -- 7
Red Hot -- 8
White Hot -- 9
God wants us to be a 1 or a 9. I’m neither one, how about you? What can
we do to get there? This is not an option, unless we want to be rejected into God’s
‘barf bag’!!! Part of the clue to this whole process is realizing how desperate
we truly are for God’s presence and His work in our lives. I have come to
realize that if I don’t get close communion with God each day, many times a
day, I will soon be in bad shape. I am a mess. Without God, I would be on the
streets, in jail or dead. Honestly. I know this to be true.
Jesus was standing outside the door of a church when He was
knocking on it's door. Is He ever outside our church wanting to be invited to
come in and have His way? I have been in meetings like that. What a shame!
The last verse that mentions victorious overcoming is Rev. 1211 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony. And they did not love their soul until death. This sums everything up perfectly. The overcoming victorious Christian life is a joint effort. It would be impossible without Christ's sacrifice. But we need to add our agreement to that, our testimony of what He has done for us. And, it doesn't come without sacrifice. This walk isn't easy and may require the ultimate sacrifice -- death. Nevertheless, we are victors and not victims in Jesus!
I don’t know
about you, but for me, a victim’s mentality has never been attractive. After
this study, I am sure it’s not attractive to the Lord either. God expects us to
be a victor, to overcome. After all, He paid for it! Let’s honor Him by
avoiding that victim’s mentality and repenting of it if we’ve fallen into it.
Let’s also embrace our victorious Lord and stand in the victory He’s won for
us!