Building the Church -- Champions and Winners (10-12-91)
I. Building the Church -- Champions and Winners
Ephesians 4:11-13
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
II. How do we recognize champions and winners?
I dare say that our favorite champions would be those considered to be underdogs, that is those who overcame long odds to achieve success.
A. Sports has provided some of the greatest examples of champions and winners. The apostle Paul uses sports analogies to illustrate our Christion life.
1 Cor 9:24-27 (read)
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win....”
1. One of the greatest stories of an underdog achieving ultimate success would be that of the 1980 USA Olympic Hockey Team. The USA had a history of very little success in international ameteur hockey. The 1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York were not expected to be any different; teams representing the USSR, Canada and several European countries were favored by the “experts”, and many hockey fans in this country would have been extremely pleased and surprised with even a bronze medal. But that team pulled together and played the games of their lives in securing the gold medal. Without a doubt, the sum of that team was greater than the individual parts. Few members of that team enjoyed any success in professional hockey.
2. Let us contrast that hockey team with the band of mercenaries selected to represent the USA in basketball in the 1992 Olympics to be held in Barcelona, Spain. In combined salaries and other income this team has an income approaching 100 million dollars per year. Expectations are so high for this team that they could not possibly live up to all of them. If they win by fifty points there will be those who say that with the talent that they posess that should have won the game by a hundred. They may return with gold medals, but there will be those who discount their status as champions and winners. And maybe someone should remind them that Goliath was a prohibitive favorite as well.
3. The sporting venue may provide champions and heros in the public eye, the press and media building them up as well as tearing them down. the real champions and winners, the ones that intrigue me are ordinary people whose activities usually would not garner a second glance from the media. Nevertheless, it is these who make a difference in the world that matters for eternity. The Bible give us more than a few examples.
a. The widow’s mite
Mark 12:41-44
And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the multitude were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. And calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
b. Mary with the alabaster vial of perfume
We are all familar with this story, but I want to point out one thing in particular; in Matthew’s account it is the disciples who complained about the waste, in John’s account he singles out Judas as the one who offended by Mary’s action. The point is this, sometimes those who were and are closest to Jesus fail to recognise true champions and winners. Mark 14:9 records the value that Jesus placed upon this offering:
i. “And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, that also which this woman has done shall be spoken of in memory of her.”
III. Fight the good fight of faith. -- Overcoming the obstacles
Warfare also provides the proving grounds for champions and winners. Paul encouraged Timothy to “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (II Tim 2:3)
A. There are those who would prefer not to talk about about warfare, they find it too distasteful, too unpleasant to contemplate they wish it would just go away. I suppose that working for peace among nations and peoples is a honorable and noble cause, even if somewhat misguided. In the spiritual realm we know that there is not even the possiblity of a truce. Our values, our beliefs and our way of life is under attack. We face battles on every front, the enemy is relentless.
1. There are many in positions of leadership in this country in many capacities who seek to undermine traditional family values and morality
a. There is increasing intolerance of religion. We are in essence being told that those whose perspectives are based upon a belief in God, principles of righteousness and spirituality have no place in education, society and government. We are being told to keep our old fashioned beliefs and standards to ourselves while at the same time those whose lifestyles and profane speech are diametrically in oppostion to God are being encouraged into greater expression.
b. Education
Students and teachers can introduce all sorts of things that are contrary to Christians ethics and principles. However, at the beginning of the current school year when Christian students around the country were encouraged to gather around the flagpole for a time of prayer for the schools, in several areas there was resistance and even some arrests were made.
c. The sanctity of life - We are seeing increasing attacks not only on the unborn, but on the sick and elderly as well. The how to do it suicide book, “The Final Exit” has made it to the best sellers list.
d. Morality - Although Governer Wilson recently vetoed the homosexual rights bill AB101 many saw this not as taking as stand for morality and decency, but rather as being policitally expedient. Wilson was angered by receiving over 300,000 letters of protest from those concerned.
B. Someone once said, “Winning isn’t everything it is the only thing.” We are engaged in conflict and we need champions and winners to step forward. The spotlight of the world will not be upon these champions and winners, they may not even receive recognition from within the church. But they will not be stepping forward for those reasons, but rather because they are answering the call of God in their life.
1. Ezekiel recorded the words of the the Lord in (22:30) when He said, “And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”
a. May someone step forward to answer the call as Isaiah did when God called, “Here am I, send me.” (6:8)
2. Winston Churchill made this statement in his first speech as Prime Minister before the House of Commons:
“Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.”
3. General Douglas MacArthur in an address to a Joint Session of Congress made this statement, “In war there is no substitute for victory.”
IV. The battle belongs to the Lord
A. At a very young age David recognized that God was able to deliver him from danger and he had great confidence in God. We should gain confidence and inspiration from the story of his confrontation with Goliath as recorded in I Samuel 17. Let us look at a few verses:
17:26 17:31 17:45-47
B. It seems that apart from David there were precious few if any who had confidence in God to deliver them. But as the Scriptures say, “And a child shall lead them” appears to be a very relevant truth.
C. Confidence in God to help and deliver
1. 2 Chronicles 20:20
As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in His prophets and you will be sucessful.”
D. It is my firm conviction that everyone who teaches a Sunday School class, a Bible Study or preaches from this pulpit should be doing everything possible to instill confidence and firm trust in God. If we suceed in nothing else we must communicate the message that our only confidence and hope is in the Lord our God.
1. As the hymn writer wrote,
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus Name
V. Conclusion
A. There is much more to be covered regarding our trust in the Lord. We will cover this area in future messages. AS we leave today please take to heart what has been preached.
1. Who are champions and winners?
a. Not those who the world considers, those those who are champions and winners for God.
2. Fight the good fight of faith. -- Overcoming the obstacles
3. The battle belongs to the Lord