September 18, 2011
Morning Worship
Text: Acts 4:1-22
Subject: Gaining Victory
Title: Playing to Win
I love to watch pro football. I am not a football fan but really am just a home team fan. I loved the football Cardinals when they were in St. Louis and despised them when the moved to Arizona. I didn’t care much for the Los Angeles Rams but loved them when they moved to St. Louis. So right now I am a Rams fan and whether they win or lose I will watch them play.
One thing that I really like about this Rams team is that since the hiring of a new coach three years ago, all the players seem to have bought into his system. When I talk about “his system” I mean his philosophy of coaching, playing and winning. He is introducing a culture of change to the old Rams team. The players understand that what he says and does when it comes to football is for the betterment of the team. Since he has come to St. Louis, he has brought in younger players and has gotten rid of troublemakers. He has released some good players who lacked discipline. Most of all, he has introduced to this team a team first philosophy where everyone on the team looks out for the teammates. He is giving them an opportunity to win and is doing so by bringing out the best in the players he has. So now, every time this group of players steps out onto the field they think that they have an opportunity to win. Last week was their first game of the season and they lost 31 – 13 to a really good Philadelphia team. But they didn’t lose because of the game plan. They lost because of some little mistakes along the way. When they walked off the field each one of them knew that if they can eliminate the mistakes they will win games.
What I really like about the Rams is that there are no superstars on the team. There are potential superstars and some of them will be great players, but they are a team that just goes out and does what their coach has taught them to do, and the more they play with that attitude, the more games they will win. They go out and play smart, play hard and play to win.
That is what I want to talk to you about today. Jesus is building a team called “the church” and He is giving every team member the opportunity to get on the playing field, get into the mix of the battle, and play to win. Here are the similarities between the church and the Rams… 1) Both are made up of ordinary people who are empowered to do extraordinary things… 2) Both rely on a game plan that is set in place by their leader… 3) And both pay a price for being on a winning team – they give up their individual pursuits to become a team.
There is one difference between the church and the Rams. The church is guaranteed victory if its members are willing to get in the game.
I want to challenge you to day to be a Christian who is willing to play to win.
Read Acts 4:1-22
Everyone hold up your bibles…
I believe this is God’s word…
I believe every word in it…
I stand upon this word…
And I accept every promise that is given to me…
I. WINNERS ARE ORDINARY PEOPLE DOING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS… The beginning of chapter 4 describes the result of the event in chapter 3. This is the story of Peter and John’s healing of the crippled man who sat at the Beautiful Gate in the Temple complex. This man was looking for a handout and instead he got a hand up. Acts 3 starting in verse 6, Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Now you need t keep this in mind as the backdrop to everything else that occurs in chapter 4. Go back to chapter 4, 1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message (3:11-26) believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. 5 The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Look at the extraordinary events that are taking place in the first 12 verses. 1) They were speaking to the people… not too many days earlier the apostles had scattered for fear that what had happened to Jesus would happen to them. But the Day of Pentecost changed that… 2) the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead… 3) many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. The number of believers was increasing exponentially… 4) They were living out extraordinary events through extraordinary power…8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth… 5) They were sharing the message of salvation with their enemies… Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. I want you to understand something. These disciples who were doing these things were not trained players like on a football team who were high draft picks and great things were expected of them. They were ordinary men doing extraordinary things according to God’s word. Zechariah 4:6, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty… Acts 4:13, When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Psalm 138:3, When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted. What are you called to be? I guess a better question might be, “What kind of Christian do you want to be?” Question; What was it that made Peter and John, who the Sanhedrin called ordinary men, stand out? They were doing extraordinary things. The NIV I think is being kind when it called them “ordinary” men. The word that is translated “ordinary” is idiotes and is translated as “ignorant” in the KJV. They were uneducated and ignorant yet they were doing the supernatural work of God. How? By healing a cripple and by preaching the gospel to the crowds and even to the Sanhedrin! They were in the game to win. There is something in football that I don’t like. Many times, when a team has gotten a big lead, they will go into what is called a “prevent” defense. The defensive backs play deep and give up the short passes to keep the offense from getting a big play that would allow them to get back in the game. What I think happens when you go into that prevent defense is that it prevents you from winning. You see when you are back peddling all the time and the offense is moving forward and once they gain momentum it is difficult to stop them. Here is the problem with many of us in the church. We don’t play offense – we play a prevent defense thinking that we will be able to slow our opponent down and wear him down enough that we can gain a victory. No, listen to me, the victory is already won… Why do we want to back peddle our way into heaven? Instead we need to be ordinary people doing extraordinary things. We need to be playing offense always! Find a scripture that tells you who you are in Christ or in the power of God and wake up every morning claiming it as your own. Get the enemy on defense first thing every morning and see how your day goes. Philippians 4:13, I can do everything through him who gives me strength… Psalm 18:29, With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall… Isaiah 54:17, no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you… Take the sword of the Spirit – the word of God – and confront your enemy … resist him and he will flee from you.
II. WINNERS PLAY ACCORDING TO THE COACH’S GAME PLAN…I read verse 13 already but let’s go back and put the emphasis on a different part of the verse. 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. What was it that made Peter and John such a threat to the religious leaders of Israel? It was the fact that they had been with Jesus. They knew the game plan that had been laid out for them… You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you… Go and make disciples… go and preach the good news to every living creature… you’ll do what I have been doing and even greater things than theses shall you do… If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you… in Him we live and move and have our being… Whose game plan is it? How could it possibly fail? Then why aren’t we seeing the results of the victory that was won at the cross and resurrection of Christ – not just salvation, but all the benefits? Because we are like those young Rams players who make a mental mistake occasionally and it may cost the game – one small battle – but we learn from that mistake and move forward better and stronger and wiser than before. Look at verse 14, But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. Who was behind the “religious” mentality of these Jewish leaders? “Outstanding miracles” in the Greek literally is, “an absolutely known supernatural indicator”. There was no doubt that God was behind what the disciples were doing. There was no way that they could deny it. Shouldn’t the church be playing according to that game plan? What would happen if you started believing for miracles for people and by faith saw them happen. Luke 10:19, I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Hebrews 11:1,6, 1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see… 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. You know I told you about how so often once a football team gets that offensive momentum going it is hard to stop them. It is because they see success in the game plan and continue to operate according to it and they do it over and over and over again until it becomes second nature to them. The opponent will try to stop them but it doesn’t work unless you allow it. Look at verses 17-18, 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
III. WINNERS PLAY KNOWING THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY… 19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” This is the same ruling council that had put Jesus to death just weeks before. Yet Peter and John were not going to back down. Their lives would be threatened, they would be in constant danger, and eventually all except John would be put to death for their faith. One of my favorite players on the St. Louis Rams is Steven Jackson. Last week he pulled a quad muscle on the first play of the game and still ran 47 yards for a touchdown on the play, and then for 12 yards the next carry before he came out of the game. And even though he is still experiencing some pain he is planning on playing Monday night if possible. Two years ago he played with a bad back and had surgery after the season was over. His focus was on the team and it is that kind of attitude that makes the coach look good. 21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. Turn over to Hebrews 11 starting in verse 32… 32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith… even in the most difficult of circumstances they played to win.
There is something that bothers me about some teams – and the Rams used to fit this mold – when a culture of losing has been developed over a period of time teams begin to do something really weird. They begin to play so not to lose rather than playing to win. Do you understand the difference? Many times those losing franchises have been so beaten down by their foes that they are beaten before they ever walk onto the field. Their primary focus becomes, not to win, but to keep from being beaten too badly. I can’t stand when a team loses and then says they are happy with their performance- that they did everything they could to win. NO, they did everything they could to keep from losing. They were back –peddling from the opening kickoff.
Unfortunately many in the church have that same negative mindset. What’s going to happen today? How is the enemy going to attack this week? You know if I’m talking about you or not. You’re beaten before you ever step out on the playing field of life – and then we claim to be born again, Spirit filled believers…
Stop playing defense church. Start playing offense expecting to score a touchdown every time you have the ball. So satan sacks you in the backfield for a 10 yard loss. So What? Get up off the ground and get back in the huddle then wind up and throw one downfield and know that you’re a winner. Sometimes the enemy is waiting downfield for you. So start throwing those short passes and eat up the clock while picking up smaller gains. But keep moving forward.
How do you do that? Stay with the playbook! Your coach has every answer that you need. Your God has given you great and precious promises. Confess His word. Know His word. Believe His word. Stand on His word.
Yeah, there will be a price to pay, but there is and end zone waiting for you like none you have ever seen. Jesus has been gone for over 2000 years preparing it for you.
I’ll never give up.
I’ll never give in.
I’ll never give out.
I’m a child of the King.
I’m on the winning team.
I am not a loser.
I claim every promise that God has given me.
Play to win!
