“Get In The Game”
“Being a Part of The Team”
Good morning and thank you for choosing to worship with us today here at Central.
It is our desire that you enjoy the warmth and fellowship of the people of God, that you have a life changing experience with God, and that you discover the plan He has for your life.
Let’s make our profession together, this is my bible, God’s holy word, it is a lamp …
The analogy that we are using for this message is football, but that is not what this message will be about.
VIDEO CLIP
Today we want to look at, “Being a Part of The Team.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 27 NIV
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
There are different teams, just as there are different churches, yet together we make up the body of Christ.
There will be a total of 106 players (53 on each team) on the field, yet thousands of people in the stands just watching who know how it should be done, what should be done, and will emphatically yell and tell them. (Especially if things are not going well)
There will be millions of more arm-chair quarterbacks who can do it better than the one on the field and coach better that the coaches.
No one on the team gains experience from those who are never in the game.
“Being a Part of the Team”
Those who are a part of the team have a designated area of responsibility that they are accountable for.
OFFENSE:
• Team Owner: God The Father
Team is His birth, His creation.
All things take place under his direction.
• President – G/M: Christ
He chooses each persons gifts and roll on the team.
• Head Coach: Holy Spirit
He equips the players and empowers them for the benefit of the whole team.
• Quarterback: Pastor
Receives the call from the coach and directs the play.
• R/B’s and Receivers: Staff
Assist the pastor is carrying out the play given by the Holy Spirit.
• Lineman: Board & Leaders
They are to be armor bearers to the pastor and provide protection for him.
Playbook: Word of God
Psalm 119:105 NIV
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
• The Lamp/Word discovers us
• The Lamp/Word directs us
• The Lamp/Word develops us
The word of God discovers us – It is a lamp. A lamp brings to light that which is and not is known.
There are things that we may have gotten away with here on earth, but not according to the word.
The Bible tells us that we will give an account for every wrong thing that we have ever done.
It discovers things which we do not know and could be harmful for us unless detected.
ILLUSTRATION
One year on opening day of deer season it was uncommonly cold.
I got into my stand and had not had the opportunity to look in it the day before.
I sat there and watched the beautiful orange glow of the sunrise.
As the sun began to break through, I could finally see the inside of the blind.
As it began to warm a little something fell to the floor to my left. I looked and it was a yellow-jacket.
I looked in the top left corner of the blind and there was a nest with probably 100 or more yellow-jackets.
I never knew they were there until light entered the blind.
The very first thing that God created in this wonderful universe was light and He called it GOOD.
The word of God directs us- Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:133 KJV
Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Psalm 37:23 KJV
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way
1 Thessalonians 3:11-12 NKJV
Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.
ILLUSTRATION
Basketball – ½ time – switch boards – tip-off – Wrong direction
The word of God is our GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) for life.
The word of God defends us –
The Word is our offensive weapon in warfare against the devil.
Ephesians 6:13-17 NIV
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
What is so important about putting on the armor of God?
Last week we studied about how the believer is equipped.
Church, we are in a battle, in a war that our lives are not the important part of, but our eternity and that of our families.
Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
We must be armed with the sword of the spirit, the word of God.
That is our offense.
DEFENSE
• Defensive Line: Prayer Warriors
They fill the trenches to be the front line against the enemy.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS: POWER
(Faith, Healing, Miracles)
Faith – All things are possible to them that believe.
Miracles/Healing – There is a difference between a healing and a miracle.
If I receive the touch of the Lord in my body because I receive a transplant, that is a healing. (Progressive)
If I go in and they tell me, your liver has become perfectly normal, then that is a miracle. (Instant)
• Linebackers: Intercessory Prayers
They job is to aide the line and take out anyone who gets through the line.
They also break through the enemy’s line and go after the enemy.
They interfere and box in the enemy through the power of prayer.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS: UTTERANCE
Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues, & Prophesy.
• Cornerbacks, D/B’s. & Safetys:
These are the veteran warriors, those who have many years of experience in their faith.
They understand the power of teamwork and that we can get much more accomplished for the Lord when we all work together.
They make sure the enemy does not get in and gain a foothold behind the line and linebackers.
When the enemy comes in like a flood, they step up and stop him.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS: REVELATION
Wisdom, Knowledge, Discernment
They know the enemy because they are experienced veterans.
They know the trick plays and the tactics he will use against them because they have come against these things before.
They have discernment; they have an inward spirit that alerts them to what is taking place.
They understand that the battle is not theirs, but the Lords.
CLOSING
Each team member has an assignment and will move over to help those who need assistance.
They know that if they fail, it affects the whole team.
What part or roll that you play is not what is important, what is important is that you are on the team.
The ones on the team are the ones who are in the game, either on the field, or ready to hit the field.
