Be Like Fire Ants: Building a Spirit That Bounces Back

Sermon outline

Believers are not meant to be weak: Christ is mighty in you by the same Spirit that raised Him from the dead, so build a strong spirit that keeps bouncing back.

1. Let the weak say, I am strong

   A wise person is strong, and knowledge increases strength. This is not physical strength but the spiritual might inside the believer, the deposit of the Holy Ghost. Under life's pressures we forget that ability, yet Paul learned that when he was weak, then he was strong.

   “As we increase in knowledge, we increase in strength.”

   • Joel 3:10
   • Proverbs 24:5-6
   • 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

2. Be strong in the Lord

   Paul's words to the Ephesians are not just encouragement but a spiritual instruction, because our battle is not against flesh and blood. Christians are strong people. Life has thrown its best shots and many wanted you to fail, but you are still here and still serving God.

   “Christians aren't weak people. Christians are strong people.”

   • Ephesians 6:10-12
   • Romans 8:31

3. Christ is mighty in you, so stir it up

   Christ is not weak towards you but mighty in you, not dormant. The Holy Ghost is a spiritual vitamin living inside you, and like Timothy you must stir up the gift of God. The word mighty speaks of the power at work in believers, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, which gives believers an unfair advantage over the unsaved.

   Illustration: Vitamins bought off the shelf supply what food does not; the Holy Ghost is the spiritual vitamin inside you.

   “He's not dormant. He's mighty in you.”

   • 2 Corinthians 13:3
   • 2 Timothy 1:6
   • Romans 8:11

4. Develop a strong spirit, not only a strong mind and body

   A strong mind and a strong body are good, but you also need a strong spirit, the spirit of a fighter that springs back up when knocked down. Believers are often taught that humility means weakness, but God says be strong. The years ahead will not be easy, the church may face persecution, and weak people will fall away.

   Illustration: His granddaughter Jade, just over a year old, is so strong-willed that when he tried to take something from her hand she smacked his glasses off.

   “Somebody can knock you down, but you'll spring up again.”

   • 1 Timothy 4:8

5. Lessons from the fire ants

   He shows a short video of researchers studying fire ants that flow like a liquid yet spring back like a solid. God has already written all our days, and the ants teach believers to move forward, to flow like liquid fire, to bounce back when pressed and to huddle together for strength, which is the corporate anointing of the church gathering.

   Illustration: A science video of fire ants poured through a funnel like syrup, then pressed into a ball that bounces back like rubber.

   “Every time the devil challenges you, you just bounce up again.”

   • Psalm 139:16

6. Divergence, not convergence

   In 2013 many people functioned in convergence, focusing all their thoughts and resources on one problem. God wants divergence: looking up and seeing the bigger picture, dealing with each problem without stress. Fixating on the problem kills creativity, but looking up lets solutions flow.

   Illustration: He uses a speaker in the room as 'the problem' to show the difference between narrowing all your focus onto it and looking up and out.

   “You're so focused on the problem you don't become creative.”

7. Keys to mental toughness (the first four of thirteen)

   Number one, mentally tough people don't waste time feeling sorry for themselves. Number two, they don't shy away from change. Number three, they don't give their power away or let others manipulate them. Number four, they don't dwell on the past: God forgave you, so let it go.

   Illustration: He admits he likes routine, but his son Adrian keeps wanting to change his songs. He borrows a man's jacket to act out letting go of the past.

   “There's some stuff you just got to let it go.”