Overcoming An Inferiority Complex
I. The biggest problem many
people have is they reject what the mirror says
A.
Satan wants you to believe you are something
other than what God says (Proverbs 23:7)
B.
If your identity is unknown your potential
will be unmanifested (Mark 4:35)
C.
The enemy will have a voice trying to shape
your image and keep your potential trapped
D.
Satan attempts to steal your identity through
your feelings, circumstances, and people so always go to the mirror of the Word
to get your identity
E.
It’s pride when God says one thing about you,
you say another
1.
1 Peter 5:6-Humility is the inward condition
of a heart that is totally submitted to God and to his word.
2.
2 Corinthians 12:6, Obadiah 3-Humility is
reality
3.
Romans 12:3-If God doesn’t want us to think
too lowly
II. Overcoming inferiority
A.
Colossians 2:18-Satan wants to defraud you of
your rightful identity through depiction so that you’ll miss out on all the
good things that come with that identity
1.
He often times does that by attempting to
produce a sense of inferiority
B.
Judges 6-8-Gideon
1.
6:1,2-Your identity is shaped by your
experiences, instruction, and exposures
a.
Seven years of oppression will put something
in you and it will take you the place where you don’t remember it any other way
b.
Genesis 12:1-When God was ready to take
Abraham higher the first thing that he addressed was getting him away from
voices that were shaping his identity
1)
EX: That guy had to take that eagle far
enough away from the chicken coop until the Eagle couldn’t see it any more
c.
Proverbs 13:20, 1 Corinthians 15:33-Who you
surround yourself with matters
1)
Galatians 5:7-9-A little leaven leavens the
whole lump
2.
6:11,12-The mighty man of valor
a.
He’s hiding is wheat in the winepress so the
bully won’t take it from him
b.
God sees that and calls things that be not as
though they were
1)
God is putting a new image in him
3.
6:13-16-God’s word bumped into an image that
was created by 7 years of bondage
a.
14-God’s putting a new image in him, but he
can’t see it yet
b.
15-The mirror said he was a mighty man of
valor; he rejects it
c.
15-He’s the seed of Abraham, but he’s
identifying with is poor family
1)
Abraham had the blessing on his life and
because of that blessing he was very rich and with that blessing he took 318
trained servants into battle on defeated the strongest army on the Earth in
that day
2)
The covenant that God made was with Abraham
and his seed after him
a)
Deuteronomy 28:7-The promises to the seed of
Abraham
b)
Genesis 17:7-The covenant was with Abraham
and his seed
c)
Genesis 22:17-Part of that covenant was that
his see would possess the gate of his enemies
d.
Instead of indentifying
with being a seed of Abraham, a son of God, and a joint-heir with Jesus you’re
identifying with the family you’re from or what the circumstances say about you---With
whom do you identify?
1)
You are to identify primarily with Jesus
4.
6:22-He’s the seed of Abraham, but he’s not
conscious of it; he doesn’t see himself that way but seeing God and dying was
right on the forefront of his mind
a.
Many believers are more conscious of the
wrong things than they are the right things---We’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God---Many are the
afflictions of the righteous---In the world you’ll have tribulation
5.
6:25-27-There’s an image of inferiority
that’s been built in a lot of believers that’s not in line with God and His
Word and it must come down
6.
7:9-15-God’s still getting working to get
that inferiority out of him
a.
13-14-For the first time he doesn’t see
himself as inferior
7.
8:4-9,13-21-He’s hiding wheat yesterday and
now today he’s a whole different man
a.
18-To those kings, Gideon looked like the son
of a King; he looked like that outside because he saw himself like that inside
b.
20-He’s got fear in him because his daddy had
probably put that there
8.
When the identity that one man had of himself
changed his whole world changed
III. You are not inferior
A.
In the time of attack you are to have no
sense of inferiority
1.
Ephesians 1:19, 2:6-You are seated with him
far above all principality, all power, all might, all dominion and every name
that’s named
2.
1 John 4:4-Greater is not inferior
a.
Greater-Persons eminent for the virtue,
authority and power, those who surpass others in nature and power
3.
This so-called religious humility/false
humility isn’t impressing God at all
B.
The mighty men of David had no sense of
inferiority (2 Samuel 22:8-12 Message) 8 This
is the listing of David's top men. Adino the Eznite He was chief of the Three. He once put his spear to
work against eight hundred—killed them all in a day. 9-10 Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite was the next of the elite Three. He was with David
when the Philistines poked fun at them at Pas Dammim.
When the Philistines drew up for battle, Israel retreated. But Eleazar stood his ground and killed Philistines right and
left until he was exhausted—but he never let go of his sword! A big win
for God that day. The army then
rejoined Eleazar, but all there was left to do was
the cleanup. 11-12 Shammah son of Agee the
Hararite was the third of the Three. The Philistines
had mustered for battle at Lehi, where there was a
field full of lentils. Israel fled before the Philistines, but Shammah took his stand at the center of the field, successfully
defended it, and routed the Philistines. Another great victory for God!
1.
8-Adino went against 800 at one time and did
not feel inferior
2.
10-Eleazar, the son of Dodo, and David
defeated a whole army
3.
11-Shammah stood, when Israel fled and one a great
victory
C.
Jesus stared death in the face and didn’t
flinch (Isaiah 53:12 message)
1.
David stared Goliath right in the face and
didn’t flinch (1 Samuel 17:45)