Among the now-famous professional boxers who started their careers in the amateur ranks are American gold-medal winners Muhammad Ali, Oscar De La Hoya, George Foreman, Leon and Michael Spinks, Floyd Patterson and Ray Leonard. But let’s talk a little about Muhammad Ali.
Ali quickly gained the confidence of the world and shocked the world on February 25, 1964, when we fought Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship of the world. Clay was a huge underdog in the fight, and many didn’t expect him to even challenge Liston. However, Clay "shocked the world" when he not only put up a fight against Sonny Liston, but dominated him enough in the first 7 rounds that Liston failed to come out for the 8th. Cassius Clay had done what many thought was impossible and put himself on top of the boxing world. Heavyweight title.
OPENING STATEMENTS
Today, Muhammad Ali has many accomplishments:
• Ali was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990 and into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983.
• In 1994 Sports Illustrated ranked Ali first on its "40 for the Ages List."
• In 1987 The Ring named him the greatest heavyweight champion of all time.
After examining Ali’s life, you can tell that behind his victories/accomplishments and glories, there is a story.
I 1971 - Fight Of the Century
Ali was defeated by George Foreman in match called “Fight of the Century”
Many of you are in the fight of the century. This is the season you will make it or break it.
II 1974 - Rumble in the Jungle
Ali defeated George Foreman during this boxing match called “Rumble in the Jungle” in Zaire.
Many of us are rumbling in the jungle. We don’t know what we really stand for. We look like winners but secretly we are wavering between two opinions.
III 1975 - Thrilla in Manila
Ali defeats Joe Frazier in the "Thrilla in Manila" in the Philippines.
But many of us are into thrills. We have too many thrilla’s in Manila or California or Louisiana, etc. You have struggle with being flesh ruled. These are sins that so easily beset you.
TRANSITION
We noticed in Ali’s first fight in 1971, he was defeated by George Foreman. You imagine that he wanted to quit. But three years later, Ali came back and whipped on old George. He was determined to become the greatest . . . Ali was often tell others that “I am the greatest”! He didn’t give up until he became the greatest. He didn’t quit -- he finished his course. What about you? Are you going to finish the race/destiny/dream set before you? Let me lend you my sermon title tonight as we chase together the subject - THE STRUGGLE TO FINISH.
Definition of Finish - completed by doing all things: required (demanded prerequisite to completion), ,an necessary.
Let’s look at two ways to finish:
• Bring it to a conclusion or end.
• Bring it to a perfection, a level of excellence.
I am finding in the Body of Christ that we don’t have many people who finish. We have a generation of people who are not finishers. We have a generation of fathers who walk off and don’t raise their kids, people don’t finish being single, people don’t finish being married, people don’t finish church, don’t finish sewing projects, don’t finish losing weight, etc.
WHY DON’T WE FINISH?
1. We don’t understand that we have an enemy - the devil. He is not stupid or dumb. He is cunning and crafty and after you.
Ephesians 6: 11
Wiles - craftiness, tactics, strategies, ambush.
2. Excuses - are the crutches of the undetermined and uncommitted.
3. Become distracted by others. Realize that some people don’t want you to finish. You make others look bad when you finish.
They distract you because they see you as a threat to their private agenda. They recruit others against you.
4. We become drawn away from our own lust. Falling into immoralities and secret sins.
Hebrews 12:1
5. We reject the advice of authority. We want to be independent, unaccountable, and many of us are unteachable.
Authority is God’s plan to protect our lives. We need personal accountability.
STRATEGIES TO FINISH:
I PUT THE DOG BACK IN THE DOGHOUSE.
Psalm 22:20
Delivery my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
Dog - represents the agent of destruction or the devil. (Devil - diabolos which means one who strikes repeatedly - again, again, and again, until he finally breaks down one’s mental resistance).
Get the folly out of the church (inside and out)
Folly - evil, wickedness, foolish act or idea.
Isaiah 56:10 - 11
Proverbs 26:11
Most of you are in folly, because you need deliverance. Many of you are under curses.
II YOU NEED REAL POWER - IT’S THE YOKE DESTROYING ANOINTING
Muhammad Ali was facing one of his toughest opponents ever. Grizzled and worn from years of boxing, Ali wondered if his best fight would be good enough to keep his championship belt. This opponent had taken him to the limit before, and Ali decided that something special was needed to give him an edge, something that his opponent would not be prepared for and would likely be unable to counter effectively. Ali decided to employ a strategy he called Rope-a-Dope: just wait at the ringside and position himself defensively, wait for his opponent to tire himself out with ineffective blows, and then finish him off. When facing an extremely aggressive opponent, one particularly prone to swing for the knockout punch at every turn.
Does the devil have you against the ropes tonight? Are you swinging like you are in a cat fight (all over the place) put getting no hits and wearing out? Then you need the anointing of God to get your off the ropes.
God is looking throughout the earth to find someone who will allow His power to be released through this generation.
III THE POWER OF GETTING UP
Nobody cares about how you were knocked down, but how you get up.
Ali got knocked down by Parkinson disease. He doesn’t speak well, he shakes. But he is still a champion.
• 1996 Opens the Olympic Games in Atlanta
A. If you get-up, you will bless the lives of others.
Leave a legacy for next generation.
Because Ali finished, his daughter rose up. Laila Ali, daughter of one of the greatest boxers of all time, Muhammad Ali is now a professional woman boxer (since March 1998).
B. If you get-up, God’s get the Glory!
Leave a memorial of the power of God for this generation.
No one cares you start, but how you finish.
I don’t want to finish 50%, and not so, so. I don’t want to be mediocre.
No matter how hard you been hit, get up. What if Muhammad Ali stopped fighting after he lost his first bout to George Foreman? He got up and so can you. You have to be persistent and have endurance.
Turn to your neighbor and say GET UP!
CONCLUSION
On May 25, 1965, Clay fought Liston in a rematch. The fight went a little differently than the first. In the first round, before many people had even found their seats in the stadium, Clay caught Liston with what had become known as the "phantom punch," knocking Liston to the mat. The punch was so fast and so unexpected that barely anyone even realised it had been thrown.
It’s not your entry that is important, but your exit.
I will not leave shame on my family, city, or God.
Everybody will be blessed if I finish strong.
I am determined to finish strong. I want my children to finish strong.
You are in a race and are you determined to finish it.
Run the race! Hebrews 12:1-3
Stay focus and lay aside the things that try to stop you.
