Thoughts
that have come from various quotes taken from the book, "Victor - Breaking
Free From a Victim Based Society" by John H. Hovis. Click here to link directly to
the audio file.
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"They see their melancholy ways as somewhat of a badge of honor; even though they can’t feel or see God, they continue to follow Him. There has to be some reward for choosing God in spite of the fact that their lives can’t prove His existence. Hear the haunting strings of victim thinking in such a response?"
As quoted from the book "Victor - Breaking Free From a Victim-Based Society" by John H. Hovis Page 165.
Oftentimes some of the most downcast and negative people you will see are people who call themselves Christians. I have seen movies that portray monks who spend their days literally beating themselves with branches over the wretched people they are. Maybe I have it all wrong, but those who follow Jesus should be among some of the most joy filled people to walk the face of the earth.
Sure if we compare ourselves to a perfect god, those monks are doing exactly what they should be doing. We are wretched people when compared to the perfection of a perfect god. Our wretchedness deserves punishment more significant than being beaten by twigs and branches. We deserve to be wiped off the face of all creation! But that's the whole idea of Jesus! He came so that we might be able to live in the fullness of the identity of the victors that we are in spite of our failure at eliminating wretchedness from our lives. It's not perfection in our lives that makes as victors, it's the perfect life of Jesus Christ that allows us to be seen as the victors God made us to be.
A wonderful and talented friend of mine named Manna Ko gave a presentation to a group of Christian artists and authors. In this presentation she discussed the "7 Ups of Being a Christian." One of the "Up's" she presented was that we, as followers of Christ, weshould " Dress Up." In her talk she asks the important question, "Why are we all walking around like a bunch of victims?" She was referring to the fact that so many of us have allowed the challenges that we face to make us doubt the identity of the victor that Jesus paid such a high price to provide for us. In that regard, we're just like the rest of the world when we are so quick to "Dress Down" in a way that makes victim thinking a real possibility in our lives.
Where Christians and non Christians alike get it wrong is that we let the circumstances of this life define our identity, and therefore our attitude about the life that we live. Christians are not immune to challenges and trials in this life in spite of some teachings to the contrary. The bible is clear about what a follower of Jesus might expect.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:6-10 (NIV)
Darkness, death, pressure, confusion even persecution. Not a very appealing benefit list for those who might be thinking of following Jesus if you ask me. The reality is that all of these things and more are likely to happen whether we follow Jesus or not. Unfortunately, we have somehow bought into the lie that by accepting Jesus all these challenges and more will somehow not be a part of our life.
When Manna spoke of "Dressing Up" she was talking about the concept of putting on our best because of what God has done for us. Put on our best face, our best attitude, our best hope for the future. When we are dressed in our best the world recognizes this difference and things happen. She isn't saying to put on, yet another facade. Quite the opposite! We are to live from the place of power that says I'm a victor no matter how many victimizing events this world throws at me. Sure we are going to have bad days but those bad days are temporary, nothing compared to the eternity that is assured the children of God we are.
In a new book Manna is writing on leadership, where she goes into more detail on the 7 Ups of life, she includes the following proclamation. Today, take time to make this proclamation yours. Speak it over your life. Say it out loud and let the fact that victor is your identity be what makes your day something others will point to as being the start of powerful change in their lives as well.
Repeat after me;
I am (state your name)
of (state your home city)
a Child of the most high King
and Lord of Lords!
Jesus is alive
and sits on the Kingdom throne
over heaven and earth -
and in the name
of all that is good,
devil your wrath on this world is over!
**********
"They see their melancholy ways as somewhat of a badge of honor; even though they can’t feel or see God, they continue to follow Him. There has to be some reward for choosing God in spite of the fact that their lives can’t prove His existence. Hear the haunting strings of victim thinking in such a response?"
As quoted from the book "Victor - Breaking Free From a Victim-Based Society" by John H. Hovis Page 165.
Oftentimes some of the most downcast and negative people you will see are people who call themselves Christians. I have seen movies that portray monks who spend their days literally beating themselves with branches over the wretched people they are. Maybe I have it all wrong, but those who follow Jesus should be among some of the most joy filled people to walk the face of the earth.
Sure if we compare ourselves to a perfect god, those monks are doing exactly what they should be doing. We are wretched people when compared to the perfection of a perfect god. Our wretchedness deserves punishment more significant than being beaten by twigs and branches. We deserve to be wiped off the face of all creation! But that's the whole idea of Jesus! He came so that we might be able to live in the fullness of the identity of the victors that we are in spite of our failure at eliminating wretchedness from our lives. It's not perfection in our lives that makes as victors, it's the perfect life of Jesus Christ that allows us to be seen as the victors God made us to be.
A wonderful and talented friend of mine named Manna Ko gave a presentation to a group of Christian artists and authors. In this presentation she discussed the "7 Ups of Being a Christian." One of the "Up's" she presented was that we, as followers of Christ, weshould " Dress Up." In her talk she asks the important question, "Why are we all walking around like a bunch of victims?" She was referring to the fact that so many of us have allowed the challenges that we face to make us doubt the identity of the victor that Jesus paid such a high price to provide for us. In that regard, we're just like the rest of the world when we are so quick to "Dress Down" in a way that makes victim thinking a real possibility in our lives.
Where Christians and non Christians alike get it wrong is that we let the circumstances of this life define our identity, and therefore our attitude about the life that we live. Christians are not immune to challenges and trials in this life in spite of some teachings to the contrary. The bible is clear about what a follower of Jesus might expect.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:6-10 (NIV)
Darkness, death, pressure, confusion even persecution. Not a very appealing benefit list for those who might be thinking of following Jesus if you ask me. The reality is that all of these things and more are likely to happen whether we follow Jesus or not. Unfortunately, we have somehow bought into the lie that by accepting Jesus all these challenges and more will somehow not be a part of our life.
When Manna spoke of "Dressing Up" she was talking about the concept of putting on our best because of what God has done for us. Put on our best face, our best attitude, our best hope for the future. When we are dressed in our best the world recognizes this difference and things happen. She isn't saying to put on, yet another facade. Quite the opposite! We are to live from the place of power that says I'm a victor no matter how many victimizing events this world throws at me. Sure we are going to have bad days but those bad days are temporary, nothing compared to the eternity that is assured the children of God we are.
In a new book Manna is writing on leadership, where she goes into more detail on the 7 Ups of life, she includes the following proclamation. Today, take time to make this proclamation yours. Speak it over your life. Say it out loud and let the fact that victor is your identity be what makes your day something others will point to as being the start of powerful change in their lives as well.
Repeat after me;
I am (state your name)
of (state your home city)
a Child of the most high King
and Lord of Lords!
Jesus is alive
and sits on the Kingdom throne
over heaven and earth -
and in the name
of all that is good,
devil your wrath on this world is over!
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