We Are The Champions

ME:

I like Action Movies

National Treasure

Transformers

All-time Favorite “Independence Day” and “Armageddon”

Those saving the world movies ....... Battle between “Good” and “Evil”

Good always wins

You walk away with that song in your head “WE ARE THE CHAMPION”

Transition Statement: What is some of your favorite Action Movies?

WE:

Watching on line - post it on comment section

Those on campus with is - “Yell out your favorite.”

Some of us might have a book we have read that is about “Good vs Evil” that is your favorite!

The Chronicles of Narnia series

Whatever it is .... Movie/Book .... Good always win’s RIGHT?

Most people (when watching/reading) will always place themselves with “GOOD.”

THEY WIN .... YOU WIN

(IF NOBODY SAID “THE BIBLE”) ..... I am wondering why no one called out the bible.

(IF SOMEONE DID SAY “THE BIBLE”) ..... have you ever thought of the bible as an action packed “GOOD vs EVIL” book?

The difference is ....... Its not fictional ..... It really Happened!

Transition Statement: We have an entire movie played out in one verse of scripture.

GOD:

Turn to Col 2:15

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (ESV)

You know what this verse says to those who are of the faith ..... WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

Through CHRIST “WE WIN”

There is an entire movie played out in this verse .....

“He disarmed” (GOD) Good “disarms”

The Greek word means stripped away / undressed

Strips the enemy of his weapons

Places the enemy in a very vulnerable position

“The rulers and authorities”

Rulers - (Arche)

Authorities - (Exousia) It is referencing the Spiritual realm (The enemy)

Demonic forces

These are the ones who God has stripped of their weapons and made vulnerable

“Put them to open shame”

I like how the NIV translates it .... “He made a public spectacle of them.”

Paul tells us that God was “triumphal” in doing this.

The Greek word is (Thriambeuo) which means Victorious Celebration in a Military campaign.

The use of the words are intentional by Paul (Militaristic)

HOW does God do this?

By His Son Jesus Christ ...... and what He did on the Cross!

Christ fulfilled the required sacrifice for sin!

For all mankind.

So here is your movie .....

Battle between good and evil

Good guy disarms the evil guy

Puts the evil guy on public display (for everyone to know and see)

Declares “Victory” Triumphal victors lap.

Play “WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS”

Transition Statement: What does this mean for us today?

YOU:

We are Victorious!

But not only the fact we are forgiven ....

We are Victorious by being set free!

I know a lot of people, as I look around the room .... as well as those who are watching on line, who have been forgiven and set free.

But I have to ask ..... Are you living in freedom?

We are the CHAMPIONS (in Christ) but are you living like CHAMPIONS?

Do you know what I hear, more than ever, coming from the church (People of the Faith)?

FEAR, ..... DOUBT, ..... WORRY, ..... alternatives ...... rather than living in freedom in Christ.

We are seeing FEAR statistically rising among people of the faith.

No longer living like champions but living defeated by FEAR.

We are seeing DOUBT statistically rising among people of the faith.

No longer living like champions but living defeated by DOUBT.

We are seeing WORRY statistically rising among people of the faith.

No longer living like champions but living defeated by WORRY.

Here is a stat for you ...... 25% of the people who claim a personal relationship with Christ suffer from Mental illness.

This includes CLERGY!

PAUSE:

Could it be that people of the faith (GOOD) are being defeated by EVIL (the enemy)?

They are being put on public display for all to see.

This is happening due to the GOOD not living in Christ ....... in the POWER of the CROSS?

Transition Statement: We don’t have to live like this!

WE:

I am not trying to simplify or discard the devastation that can come from mental illness, Fear, doubt, worry or the affects it has on the body, Mind, and soul.

What I am saying is I know someone who came to not just forgive us from our sins .....

but someone who longs to heal and deliver His children from mental illness, fear, doubt, and worry. ALL THESE THINGS.

You want to know how I know this?

God’s word gives me proof that Christ did, can, and still longs to heal and deliver.

Examples:

Matt. 4:24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them.

Luke 7:21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight.

Luke 9:42 While he was coming, the demon threw him (a boy) to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. (FEAR OF A FATHER) (WORRY OF A PARENT)

Luke 5:6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” AND Luke 5:9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. (DOUBTS)

These are just a few examples of what Christ did .... what He can still do.

Yes he forgives sin ......

But YES HE CAN DELIVER you from diseases (mental illness), fear, doubt, and worry

KJV - “Fear Not” 365 times in the Bible

Doubt - Matt. 21:21 And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

Worry - (NLT Philippians 4:6-7) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Does that sound familiar “Live in Christ”

Today ..... You leave here singing “We are the Champions” ............ Living like a Champion!