ESPN
Pastor Ken Crow
Romans 8:28-39 (King James Version)
28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This morning there is an aura of hopelessness and defeat that grips our society . The bad news and negativity dominate headlines. The worst nature of people is magnified in the media and very seldom is the positive reported .
Almost one half of Americans suffer from some form of mental depression.
How do we go from a mentality of defeat to having the mind of a victor?
My friend, the answer is to be found in Jesus.
Of late I have found ( and I believe that it has been in preparation for this message) myself paying a lot of attention to ESPN , the sports network.
ESPN television, ESPN radio and ESPN on the net .
On ESPN the focus is on winners in the athletic field.
Very little time is given to the defeated.
Have you noticed the Word of God is the same?
A whole lot of the Bible is devoted to those who are victorious in God and Christ.
How those who were defeated in life did not stay defeated.
How those who were dealt a short hand in life were able to overcome that short hand because of their relationship with God.
How that God changed their entire life by those just trusting in him.
Lets look at the mind of the victor in the Word of God this morning.
1. Expect Victory not defeat.
Here is one key verse that is a must have to have the mind of a victor.
Philippians 4:13 (King James Version)
13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
One thing I notice about athletic teams . They never rehearse loosing.
NEVER REHEARSE LOOSING IN YOUR MIND .
ONLY PRACTICE WINNING.
What causes depression is loosing over and over in the battlefield of the mind.
Do not allow the scary sight of things to remain in our thinking rather dwell on the promises of God.
Stand on the promises of God….
Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Refrain
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
Refrain
Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.
Refrain
Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.
Refrain
Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.
2 Peter 1:4 (King James Version)
4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2. Speak Victory not defeat.
Matthew 21:21 (King James Version)
21Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Mark 11:23 (King James Version)
23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
I have noticed also that no good athlete goes around saying he is going to loose.
Listen to what David told Goliath.
1 Samuel 17:45-47 (King James Version)
45Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.
3. Practice Winning.
We have mentioned this already but what I am talking about here is not only mental but physical.
Put on a smile. Yes it is a lot more pleasant for everyone around us but it will reflect the joy of the Lord in our life.
Smile right now. Now tell me that smiling did not change your whole person.
I noticed in my ESPN study that a winner is always smiling after the win!
Some of us Christians get great blessings from the Lord and it don’t even change our demeanor.
Esther 9:22 (King James Version)
22As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
Psalm 30:11 (King James Version)
11Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
Walk like a victor!
Talk like a victor!
Victory In Jesus
My goodness we have victory in Jesus!
I heard an old,
Old story
How a saviour came
From glory
How he gave his life
On calvary
To save someone like me
I heard about
His groaning,
Of his precious blood's
Atoning
Then i repented
Of my sin
And won the victory
Oh, victory in jesus,
My saviour forever
He sought me
And he bought me
With his redeeming blood
He loved me
Ere i knew him
And all my love
Is due him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the
Cleansing flood
4. No to the negatives.
Refuse to surround yourself with negative people.
Refuse to listen to negative things.
Think on positive things not negative.
Philippians 4:8 (King James Version)
8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
God Bless and Amen
