Inferiority Complex 
Stinkin' Thinkin' - Part 5
Exodus 3:11-14, Jeremiah 1:7


Intro:

1. Thinking creates emotions and complexities of life. It is safe to
say that when you stop thinking your problems go away.

2. The more distorted, untruthful, and harmful the thoughts the more
you will experience emotional and interpersonal pain.

3. Tonight we speak of a thinking disorder called the Inferiority
Complex.

4. Definition: "Characterized by feelings of incompetence, personal
inadequacy." - Clyde Narramore.

5. Explanation: Feelings and/or external impressions that leads one to
believe he/she is less than average, odd, ugly, incompetent,
uncoordinated, undesirable, useless or worthless.

6. Belief: "The brain is a powerful mechanism - it either accuses or
excuses us." Real or imagined the belief in ones' incompetence is a
real belief and a real problem.

(ie) Fear is a powerful emotion. It can create symptoms in response to
that fear. The fear may be unreal, even a fantasy but the symptoms are
very real.


I. Characteristics of Inferiority Complex

A. Moses' case
  1. Born a slave
  2. Hidden in the bull rushes by parents
  3. Strange name - Moses = salvaged, plucked out
  4. Rejection - unwanted, unloved
  5. Strange looking Jew in Egyptian court
  6. Adopted, a stranger, a misfit
  7. Accent, expressions, studdered
  8. Criminal - fear of being found out
  9. Sentenced to death - fugitive

B. My experience
  1. Dr. Walker
  2. Hiding
  3. Thumbsucking
  4. 1st Grade test
  5. Hating self
  6. Environment - teasing, ridicule

C. Symptoms - (1-10)
  1. Seclusion - isolation of self, hiding, introversion
  2. Fear of public, crowds, people
  3. Self consciousness - blushing, stuttering, nervousness
  4. Fear of authority figures - teachers,
  5. Idiosyncrasies - nail biting, lip biting, teeth grinding, etc
  6. Panic and confusion when on the spot, tests, interviews, etc
  7. Fear of not being liked, loved - few friends, paranoia,

D. Reoccurring Thoughts
  1. I can't do anything right.
  2. I'm a failure
  3. I'm stupid
  4. I hate myself
  5. I'm ugly
  6. Everything I do goes wrong
  7. I wish I had never been born
  8. I wish I were dead
  9. I can't stand the way I am
  10. I'll never amount to anything
  11. Nobody loves me. Why should they?
  12. I'm worthless



II. Causes of Inferiority Complex

A. Moses experience - "Been there, done that, didn't work"
  1. Running away
  2. Quitting
  3. Hiding from people

B. Childhood experiences
  1. Rejection - parental, unwanted, unloved
  2. Frequent/excessive punishment
  3. Teasing
  4. Negative correction - humiliation, embarrass in public
  5. Unfavorable comparisons - why can't you be more like ____
  6. Impossible standards
  7. Over-solicitude

C. Brain - response mechanism (fight or flight) - stimulus response


III. Cures for Inferiority Complex

A. Do not verbalize or recycle distortions and lies - 

Jeremiah 1:7  But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for
thou shall go to all that I shall send you, and whatsoever I command
you you will speak.

Acts 10:15  And the voice spoke unto him again the second time, What
God has cleansed, that do not call common (or unclean).

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are
of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
think on these things.

B. Accept your biblical value - God given value

Matthew 6:26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither
do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth
them. Are ye not much better than they?

Colossians 2:10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all
principality and power:

Ephesians 1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in
Christ: 4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation
of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in
love: 5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by
Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us
accepted in the beloved.



C. Believe and affirm your potential -

Philippians 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which
hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ:

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengthens
me.

Ephesians 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in
us,


D. Praise God for your weaknesses and experiences

Psalm 139:14  I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully
made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.15
My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and
curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did
see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members
were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there
was none of them.

2 Corinthians 12:6  For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be
a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man
should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he
heareth of me. 7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through
the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the
flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted
above measure. 8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it
might depart from me. 9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient
for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly
therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me. 10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities,
in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for
Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.


Conclusion:
 
How is your confidence in Christ this evening?

Are you fearful of people, failure, impossible tasks, rejection,
ridicule, and inadequacy? 

God is at work in you both to will and to do his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13

I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know
whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that
which I have committed unto him against that day. 2 Timothy 1:12

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompence of
reward. Hebrews 10:35





SCRIPTURE

Exodus 3:4  And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God
called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses.
And he said, Here am I. 5  And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off
thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is
holy ground. 6  Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God
of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his
face; for he was afraid to look upon God. 10  Come now therefore, and
I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people
the children of Israel out of Egypt.


Exodus 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not
believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD
hath not appeared unto thee. 2  And the LORD said unto him, What is
that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. 3  And he said, Cast it on the
ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and
Moses fled from before it. 4  And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth
thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and
caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: 5  That they may believe
that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. 6  And the LORD
said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he
put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand
was leprous as snow. 7  And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom
again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of
his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. 8  And
it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken
to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of
the latter sign. 9  And it shall come to pass, if they will not
believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that
thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry
land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become
blood upon the dry land. 10  And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord,
I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto
thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. 11  And
the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the
dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? 12
Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what
thou shalt say. 13  And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the
hand of him whom thou wilt send. 14  And the anger of the LORD was
kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy
brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh
forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his
heart. 15  And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth:
and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you
what ye shall do. 16  And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people:
and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou
shalt be to him instead of God. 17  And thou shalt take this rod in
thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.