By Steve Long
This past October, we had a series of sermons on how our church is overcoming. We covered topics such as fear, anxiety, and deception. I didn’t get to speak on this topic as I was ministering at Catch The Fire Raleigh and then at Grace Centre in Nashville. So, this is my chance to talk about a related topic on overcoming – the victim spirit.
The way the victim spirit operates is to cause a person to shift their thinking from believing who they are in Christ (an overcomer, seated in heavenly places, etc.) to believe that they have lost their standing. The result of someone falling prey to the victim spirit is a demonstration of blaming others, without taking responsibility for their own actions.
Here are some ways to spot a victim spirit:
Victim spirit is heard in how we speak. They will usually take every opportunity to share their troubles and negativity with others.
Victim spirit is extremely self-centred. They will rarely if ever, ask you anything about yourself. You can sit with these people for a couple of hours talking, and it will never occur to them to ask you anything about your life.
Victim spirit is self-absorbed. They will complain about everything that happens to them without owning their part. Nothing is ever their fault.
Victim spirit will cause them to hold on to every injustice, every hurt, every pain, and they refuse to let go.
Bible Examples of Victims
Saul the King
Saul had every opportunity to be a huge success as the first king of Israel. He was anointed by Israel’s most anointed prophet Samuel. He was mentored in decision-making by Samuel. He was taller than everyone else. He came from a prestigious family. He was a tremendous warrior and general as Israel never lost a battle under his leadership (until his last battle).
But the Bible records that all of his life Saul was negatively influenced by a spirit. You will remember that David, prior to killing Goliath, would play his harp to calm down the spirit that affected Saul. I believe this spirit was the victim spirit. It showed itself several times, including early on in Saul’s reign as seen in this story.
1 Samuel 13: 7 Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. 8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. 9 So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. 11 “What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, 12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.” 13 “You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” (NIV)
Note how King Saul takes no responsibility for his actions. He blames others for his disobedience. Specifically, he blames Samuel the prophet.
“You did not come at the set time” vs. 11
“So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.” vs. 12
His excuses for bad behaviour are all about him. He is the victim.
“When I saw that the men were scattering” vs. 11
I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal” vs. 12
“I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ vs. 12
So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.” vs. 12
Bible Examples of Victim Overcomers
Joseph the Dreamer
I believe Joseph began as a victim. He was probably teased by his brothers for how his parents babied him and treated him as their favourite. When he began to have dreams, his whole family, parents, and siblings, ridiculed him.
He could have blamed his brothers for being sold as a slave to Potifar. He could have blamed Potifar’s wife for being accused of rape and sent to jail. He could have blamed the cupbearer for leaving him in jail when he had the opportunity to be remembered for a new trial.
But, we don’t read of Joseph blaming others or feeling sorry about his circumstances during these years. In fact, just the opposite is true.
Somewhere along the line, Joseph pushed into God. God blessed him with more dreams and on top of that, the ability to accurately interpret dreams. Somewhere in the thirteen years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit, Joseph learned to forgive. It appears that he forgave Potifar, Potifar’s wife, and especially his brothers.
Joseph, when he sees his brothers before him as the prince of Egypt, quickly realizes the big picture of what God was doing. Joseph famously says these overcomer words…
Genesis 45: 5 Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. (NIV)
Overcomers, look inward to improve. They ask questions like, is there a character flaw that I’m not seeing? Is there an action or attitude in my life that I’m blind to? Overcomers look upward for revelation and inspiration regarding their circumstances. Joseph is quick to acknowledge God for all the favour he lives in, for all the breakthroughs that have come his way.
Paul the Apostle
If there is a person who could have blamed others for his circumstances it is Paul. Look at his negative resume of what happened in his life.
2 Corinthians 11: 23 I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. (NIV)
Paul could have blamed others. He could have blamed the Lord, he could have blamed the weather. He could have blamed the circumstances. But no; he revels in it. He knows that blaming others would be foolish talk. To live like a victim was crazy thinking.
2 Corinthians 11: 21 Whatever anyone else dares to boast about - I am speaking as a fool - I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.)
Later in Paul’s life while in a Roman jail, he reflects on all the events of his life. Many of us would have taken Paul’s list of bad stuff as a justification to be a victim. But not Paul.
Philippians 1: 12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. (NIV)
Paul knew Biblical truths that we can learn from. We need to adopt these principles to get out of the victim mentality and into overcome mode.
Jesus modelled being an overcomer.
John 16:33 In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV)
John the apostle knew he was an overcomer and invited us to join him.
1 John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (NIV)
Paul knew his position and perspective. Seated in heavenly places – a ruler not under the feet of Satan or anyone else!
Colossians 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (NIV)
Paul knew how to train his mind to think right so that he would make good and godly decisions.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)
Can I humbly suggest that living as a victim may have begun quite innocently? Your parents lived this way and you fell into a lifestyle copying your parents. You didn’t know the Lord and assumed that blaming and thinking of your own interests is how one lives. You didn’t know that Satan was programing you to be a victim.
But now you know. What are you going to do about it? Can I suggest a couple of things?
First, repent of living as a victim. Jesus, forgive me for blaming others, for being selfish and self-centred in my life, through my actions and words.
Second, renounce this lifestyle. Jesus I do not want to live as a victim. I do not want to function as a slave of Satan, listening to his demonic spirits for how I live my life. I command this victim spirit to leave my life. I choose to let the Holy Spirit lead and guide me. I choose to be led by the Spirit of Christ in how I behave and speak.
Third, I forgive. I forgive my parents/siblings who modelled a victim spirit. I forgive my spouse/roommates/friends who enforced that I was a victim by their words and actions towards me. I forgive myself for being deceived and not understanding until now that I entered into an agreement with this victim spirit. Father God, forgive me for blaming you for my choices and circumstances.
Lastly, I make a choice. I choose to live my life as a child of the most high God. I am seated in heavenly places with Christ. I am not the tail but the head. I have the mind of Jesus. I align my will to the will of God. I am an overcomer! Amen.
Footnote:
https://folcc.org/the-biblical-way-to-overcome-victim-mentality-and-be-a-victor/
Steve Long is the Senior Leader of Catch The Fire Church (Toronto). He is the author of several books including The Faith Zone and My Healing Belongs to Me. Steve and his wife Sandra serve on two apostolic teams; one for the City of Toronto as well as Catch The Fire World. They live in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
