Spiritual Maturity #11
A. We all have feelings of Inferiority and self doubt at one time
or another in our lives. How you handle
these feelings about yourself is important. Become destructive
and counter productive. Inferiority,
self doubt are weapons Satan will use against you to destroy your
credibility.
1. The world scoffs at Christianity. Berate, ridicule, verbal
attacks. Constant barrage of criticism and attacks against the
home and moral purity. It will affect you, your family and your
children. Only one reason they do that. Frightened to death of
Christianity and Christians.
a. When youre wrong and dont want to change, what
do you do? Get involved in denial and character assassination.
2. The world cannot deny, defeat the argument of a pure Christian
life, truths of Gods Word and the value of Christian principles.
(A) The only avenue open to them is to make Christianity look
stupid, feel stupid, Inferior,
backward, Illiterate, old fashioned and out of touch with the
times.
Many times it works. Many Christians feel inferior, Filled with
self doubts, impotent,
useless. Let the world and circumstances of life convince them
they are inferior. Become
filled with self doubt & become Embarrassed by and ashamed
of their Christianity.
(1) Dont believe they can accomplish much in the world.
Even less for Gods Kingdom. Not only doubt selves. Doubt
God. Lose faith in Christianity and the promises of God.
(a) Afraid to share God and faith with others. Thats why
the Church starting to
shrink in numbers. 2 Tim. 1:7-14.
(1) You have something the world does not have. You have nobility.
You are royalty. Nothing to be ashamed of 1 Pet. 2:9, You
are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His
own special people.
(2) Important principle for growing into Christian maturity. Its
Important that you understand. If you do not, it will cripple,
destroy your testimony and loose your grip on God and eternal
life.
(1) Feelings of inferiority will cause you to loose out on Gods
blessings. Because of his inferiority complex Moses almost blew
it; almost lost the opportunity of a life time.
(2) Moses killed an Egyptian. Hiding like a fugitive in Midian
for 40 years because he was afraid.
(3) Ex. 3:1-11. Making excuses. Looking for an out. Telling God
Hes got the wrong man. Problem? For 40 years he has nursed
the image of a looser. Dont misunderstand whats happening
here. Moses is NOT being humble.
(1) Difference between being humble and feeling Inferior. Between
humility and faithlessness. Whatever you do, dont confuse
the two.
(2) Humble people have a high degree of confidence in God. They
believe God is in control. They are not timid, they do not feel
inadequate, Helpless, fustrated, hopeless. They do not have feelings
of despair. They do not feel defeated by life and circumstance.
They have a firm assurance that God will do what He promised.
Bold confidence.
(2) Let me give you a New Testament example of what we are talking
about. 2 Cor. 11:5; 12:11. No inferiority complex here. Expresses
total confidence in God and Gods ability to enable him to
be successful.
(1) Paul never feels inferior. Why? Phip. 4:13. What was Pauls
confidence? Gods ability. PHIP 4:19,
(1) Paul has total confidence in Gods ability. Bold, confident,
effective in his work. Thats just the opposite of Moses.
Moses has no confidence in himself or in God.
(2) Questions Gods judgment, ability. God youre not
all knowing, all wise. You made a mistake, You picked the wrong
person.
(2) EXOD 4:10-12. If God can create the world and man is it impossible
for God to give a man special abilities? Is anything impossible
for God? The answer is NO, nothing is impossible for God. But
Moses doesnt believe that. Listen to verse 13 .......But
he said, "O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever
else You may send." No wonder Vs. 14, says, Gods
anger burned against Moses. You disbelieve and disobey God
and His anger will burn against you as well.
(1) Whats Moses problem? Eyes on self. Fenced God
into his own Inferiorities, limitations. As long as you doubt
God. Feel inferior, doubt self, never achieve anything lasting
as a Christian. Faithless Christians are spiritual failures. How
can you ask others to believe in your little God? Ask them to
take on your very real fears, inadequacies and failures?
(2) If your God is so small, weak, powerless that He cannot make
your weakness into strength. How can you ask others to believe
in such a puny, worthless God? Trusting God is important. Believing
in God is absolutely necessary.
2. Heb. 11:6.
(1) Self doubt results from not believing in God. That doubt can
be overcome only by faith. Faith that believes in the unfailing
power and ability of God in your life. We call you to believe
greatly in the great God, the one and only God. He will work all
things together for good in your life and make you victorious
over all things.
(2) Acts 20:32.
Spur - 12/01/02 am Bob Martin
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