Winning Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Getting past the feeling of defeat, the feeling of this will never change, we gave up to much ground .
1. WE NEED TO GET EXCITED ABOUT THE GAME
4 ‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
Other things have taken first place. Facebook is more important than the word of God. Job is more important than family. Politics are more important than the church. The frustrations of the world overshadow your game.
Remember the Goodness of God
Remember His Promises
Remember His Mighty Works.
Celebrate often how good God is
Create markers of remembrance in your life and around your home
Remember you were born for such a time as this. You are equipped for this season
You need to be hungry for victory.
Don’t forget what Jesus really did on the cross. Easter is not about a bunny. Christmas is more than gifts.
The battle is already won, but it doesn’t mean we sit back and do nothing
2. WE NEED PRINCIPLES TO LIVE BY
14 “You are My friends if you do what I command you.
You need principles that do not change. Your God is unchanging.
You need boundaries that don’t change - Your God is immovable.
You need a plan, that is a winning plan.
We need to recognize Gods perfect design.
Q- Do you recognize Gods plan and design?
You have to build upon the rock
16 therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
3. WE NEED TO REMAIN FOCUSED.
15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
We are a nation of ADD people
My dog has ADD- Im talking to Max but if a cat goes by or if I say the word cat. Max loses total concentration. He tries to listen but cant.
If i point to the window and say squirrel, which i wont many will forget what i was just talking about.
Remaining focused says to us, how bad do you want it?
Somebody said we are multitaskers. We can focus on many things at one time.
FALSE
Multitasking is nothing more than task shifting.
That is why driving and texting is a very bad thing AMEN
Get focused - Stay in your lane.
4. WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH OUR FEARS
Fear of failure, fear of rejection
Not easy but required.
You need to
1. Understand the heart of God
A bruised reed he will not break mt 12:20 AMEN
2. Understand there is a difference between conditional love and unconditional love
1 John 4:10
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. NIV
3. Understand what the Bible says about rejection.
14 For the Lord will not abandon His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance.
A ccepted not rejected
C overed by Gods unconditional love
C rushed but not broken- Psalms 34:18 – the lord is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in Spirit
E mptyed of hate filled with love.
P ersecuted but not abandoned
T rusting in the Lord – lean not on your own understanding
E njoying the peace of God - Col 3:15
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace . And be thankful. NIV
D istressed but not destroyed - "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed"
Remember the opposite of rejection is acceptance
I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5
5. WE NEED TO CONTINUE BY FAITH
The definition in the msg bible says The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.
You have to get a handle on what you cannot see. You have to trust Gods promises. If God said it , it is so.
6. WE NEED TO TRUST THE COACH.
If we don’t trust the coach then who do we trust. I aked some here to watch the movie Miracle- It is about team USA’s defeat over Russia and capturing the Gold Metal. Everyone thought this coach was crazy, I could not be done, there wasn’t enough talent or drive.
The coach eliminated most of the people who tried out in one afternoon. People complained he cut some of the best players. Coach said I don’t need the best players I only need the right ones.
The right ones became a team because the coach new what he was doing.
Do you trust the coach.
Your head coach is Jesus - do you trust him enough to say whatever you want coach.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Somebody say AMEN
This also means trrusting God when your critiqued or when the coach want s to make some character adjustments.
We need to get to the point where we love correction, because we know it will better us.
Illustration - Head down in hockey means your going to get slammed and hurt.
7. WE NEED POWER TO LIVE ON
28 “It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.
29 “Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
30 “I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, Blood, fire and columns of smoke.
31 “The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
32 “And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord Will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those who escape, As the Lord has said, Even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.
Like the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit will move you.
8. WE NEED PEOPLE TO WIN WITH
There are no lone ranger Christians.
It is all about the team - the body of Christ.
We are kingdom people - not our kingdom but his kingdom.
9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.
10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
CONCLUSION
Some of you in this room need a win.
YOU ! – Your best days are ahead of you !!!!!!!
God is going to use the weak to subdue the strong
He is going to make the ordinary , extraordinary
He is going to use the meek instead of the proud
He is going to use the simple to confound the wise
He is going to elevate the low and lower the elevated.
The polished church is going to get dirty again.
The church will be centered where the people are not where we want the people to be.
We have seen answers to prayer. The impossible will become possible.
Family members are going to come to Jesus when you least expect it.
People who feel there time has come and gone are going to come alive and say here I am use me.