Series: The Cure [#14]
THE CHAMPION
Romans 8:28-39
Introduction:
Who likes to win? From Little League Baseball to t he NFL; coaches and players work very hard to be the champion. For true competitors, no other place than 1st is good enough and even after they win; they begin to work to win again. As Tharon is preparing for the Paralympic Swimming World Championships in July; he continues to remind me that he got beat last year by the Japanese swimmer. In my opinion, a silver medal is pretty impressive; but Tharon’s opinion was, “It’s not gold”.
I’m a very competitive person and I have often challenged myself to live my spiritual life in a way that I’m a champion. Paul tells us that he ran the race of life to win. I’m here today to tell you that you can be the champion. After all, isn’t that what Easter is all about?
Romans 8:28-30 (NIV)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
There has been much controversy over this Scripture and I want to make this plain to you on this Easter Sunday. Before God ever created anything, He knew the future; and in that future the man that He had created for fellowship with Him sinned. God loved us and needed a way to pay our price for sin and so He had a plan to do that. That plan was Jesus, the Son of God coming to this Earth and taking on the form of man, living a perfect life, becoming sin on the cross, and having victory over sin and death when He arose from the grave on the 3rd day. But, it doesn’t stop there. Through Jesus Christ, we can win each and every battle that life throws at us. Don’t you want to have victory? Don’t you want to be the winner?
Romans 8:31 (NIV)
“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
I can be a champion because of…
1. God’s power.
If God is on your side, who else do you need? Do you realize that you have access to the power of God anytime you need it? In any situation you can have victory as long as you are relying on the power of God and not your own power. If you are trying to have victory over something through “will power”, then you will not succeed. “Will power” is you- You need God’s power.
Romans 8:32 (NIV)
“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
I can be a champion because of…
2. God’s provision.
Christians, what is it that you need? God provides all we need. A couple of days ago, Karen’s cell phone was stolen and I tried to convince God that He needed to get me that phone back; but we didn’t get it back. Now, as I thought about it, that was what I wanted- Not needed. Here is the point- If God would give us His Son, there is nothing else that we really need; but God provides for us anyways.
Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)
“’Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Do you trust that God will do that? He will provide.
Romans 8:33 (NIV)
“Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.”
I can be a champion because of…
3. God’s protection.
Who is it that can take your salvation? No one- Not the Devil, not your enemies, etc… God protects each of His children. The enemy can only attack you if God allows him to and God is always there during those times. Ultimately, there is nothing that can be done to you that would jeopardize your eternal salvation.
Romans 8:34 (NIV)
“Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
I can be a champion because of…
4. God’s pardon.
As Christians, we all continue to sin. Some of us more than others; but the bottom line is that we continue to sin. This is one of the most amazing things about our salvation- When Jesus had victory, it was once and for all. No matter what you do, when God the Father looks at you, He sees you as perfect. Don’t let your past hold you down- God has already taken care of that. Let it go.
Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I can be a champion because of…
5. God’s presence.
What can separate you from the love of God? This is one of my favorite Scriptures especially during difficult times. There is nothing that can separate me from God’s presence- Nothing.
Conclusion:
Through Jesus Christ, you are more than a conqueror. You can be a champion. Today is a day of celebration.
