Playing For The Crown

what we are playing for will last forever, not just a season.

1CO 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

JAS 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Did you know that you are in a race? I’m glad it’s not the kind of race that you have to be able to run real fast… or I wouldn’t have much of a chance… but it is a race that will require endurance, perseverance, discipline. The truth is that we are in this game of life, we are playing for a crown, the crown of righteousness, and it’s worth playing for, Amen?

As you know today is Superbowl Sunday, so I have decided to use some similarities between those on the Football field who are competing for a World Championship Trophy, and us who are competing for the greatest prize of all, a crown of righteousness.

1st - This is a Team Effort, We Play for Each Other

One thing you will notice about the teams that are playing in the Superbowl, they won’t talk about how great they are as an individual, they won’t talk about their personal achievements or awards. There is a type of code of honor that the good teams always adhere to… the team always comes before the individual.

These players, no matter how talented they are as individual athletes understand that they could not have made the Superbowl by themselves, they needed their teammates for the journey.

This year we saw the truth of this played out on a team in Philadelphia, where one player put himself above the team, he was only concerned about himself and he caused major problems. Because of his selfish and self- centered attitude, he was suspended for the year, and his team who was supposed to have a great chance to make the Super bowl had a horrible season, not even winning half of it’s games. Even in football, discord, selfishness, will destroy a team.

How many of you today have come to the conclusion that you need your Brother’s and Sister’s in Christ to make it on this journey?

Many of you are new to the Faith, and may not totally understand why we call each other Brother and Sister… let me share a scripture that will help you understand this relationship that we have with one another…

RO 8:12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

As Christians, we live according to the Spirit of God, we are called sons of God, and this spirit that we received is a spirit of sonship…. When we cry out to God, we literally can call out… “Daddy”.. that’s what “Abba, Father” means. So we are God’s children, we are Brother and Sister through the Blood of Christ.

So throughout Scripture it teaches us that we have a responsibility to each other, we are not playing this game of life on our own, God hasn’t called anyone to be the lone ranger, in fact, he uses the illustration of us all being a part of His body, each of us having a important part of the whole. This should give you great confidence in who you are through Christ.

We Play for Each Other…. Will you say that with me… We Play for Each Other.

I’m going to say it again and again, this is why it’s so important to get involved in one of our Life Groups… this is the place that you can find the friendship, the trust, the place to share with your brothers and sisters what’s going on in your life, and it’s through these groups that God will extend His Grace, and His Comfort… through others.

2nd - It’s the Little Things that Make a Difference

In the game of Football you have 11 players on offense, and 11 players on Defense. Every play to be successful, you need all 11 players on your side of the ball to do exactly what they have been trained to do… if not the other side will win that play.

I remember playing a game in Springfield, MO. It was one of my worst games I think I have ever played, I don’t know what was wrong I just played horrible. One of the worst plays I had during that game, I played on the Offensive Line, it was my job to block for my running back or Quarterback and keep the defensive players from making the tackle. We were pinned on our own 2 yard line, we had 98 yards to go for a touchdown. In that kind of situation, as an offensive lineman, you always protect the inside gap first.. Well, the guy lined up over me took off to my outside gap as soon as the ball was snapped, so I went with him to block him, the problem was a linebacker was blitzing, I didn’t see him in time and he tackled our running back in the end zone for a safety. As you can imagine, my coach wasn’t singing my praises for the rest of that game.

The key to being a great football team is that everyone executes their play every time so that the team can be successful.

It’s the little things that make a difference. In our Christian life, the things that seem like they are mundane, routine, not the most glamorous things… they are the most important.

a. My prayer life - Without a consistent prayer life, you will be out of tune and you will be like me on that play, missing those things that are important. It’s our prayer life where we can receive the strength, the encouragement, the renewing power that God wants to pour into our lives when He speaks to us.

If you want your Christian experience to grow and be better than what it is right now, dig deep into prayer, this is one of my personal goals this coming year is to spend more time praying… and most important… listening to God and what He has for me and for our church. I don’t want to be out of tune do you?

b. My Devotional Life - We live in a world with many confusing and deceptive voices. If we are not putting God’s Word, His Truth into our minds and hearts on a regular basis, we will be very susceptible to being led astray in our thinking. If you don’t know what the Truth is… God’s Word… How will you ever make good decisions for yourself or for your family? God’s Word is the Rock that we stand on, without it you will find yourself on shifting sand and before long swept away by the wind.

c. My Church Attendance - Let me say it this way, I don’t think God is going to hand out little golden stars to put on your White Robe because of perfect attendance. But, the reason church attendance is so important is because it is here, with your church family that you will learn, and be encouraged to keep growing in your faith. Again, we need each other, and we need to be involved in each other’s lives.. What we do here on Sunday mornings, Sunday nights and during the week in our Life Groups is vitally important to your spiritual health and growth.

d. My Witness - Probably one of the greatest ways to stretch yourself and allow God to grow you, is through your witness. If you will make yourself available to God, he will use you to tell others about what He has done in your life… share the Hope that God has given you… share the Love that God has put into your heart… share the amazing things God has been doing in our church family…. Just share… and God will bless and you will be thrilled to see how God will use your obedience to bring about His Will in the lives of other people.

Jesus told the disciples, those filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 1: 8, 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

You will be is what He said…. He wants to use you to share the Good News with those around you. Step out on Faith and see what God will do through you.

1. We play for Each Other

2. It’s the Little Things that Make a Difference

3. We are playing for a Crown

The players today on the football field in Detroit will be playing for a trophy, and each one of the winners will receive a Championship Ring. As far as football goes that’s the ultimate goal.

As Christians we have a much bigger prize that we are playing for… a Crown. The Bible says in our passage that…

JAS 1:12 “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

The Crown of Life, this life eternal that God has promised us is worth anything that we might have to endure here on Earth, do you believe that? Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial… the truth is there will be times of testing, there will be some hard times, that’s apart of this life…. But we are not alone, we have each other, and even greater than that, we have Jesus Christ through His Spirit that lives within us, giving us everything we need to make it in this life.

Listen to this ….

1CO 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Have you made your choice today, to run the race, to win the prize… not just any prize, the we do it to get a crown that will last forever. I ask you today, have you qualified for the crown, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? Christians, are you doing the little things that are needed to successfully finish this race? If you have been neglecting the most important things… talking to God consistently, getting into His Word, joining your brothers and sisters in church on a regular basis, and maybe you have not been willing to share your witness…. You can commit yourself to God this morning that you will not neglect these things any longer… make your stand, make your choice today.