SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(Philippians 3:7-8) [7] "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." [8] "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,"
(Genesis 12:8) " And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD."
(Psalms 133:1-3 ) [1] "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
[2] "It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;" [3] "As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."
PREFACE SUMMARY
God whispered in my spirit before leaving home for church, "I have a plan." When we arrived at the church, the minister spoke about the Lord's harvest and trusting God's plan. While listening to his message, which he delivered in Tagalog and broken English, the Lord whispered to me, "Before you can be a successful winner, you must learn how to lose."
This thought was sentimental to me as it reminded me of a message the Lord gave me back in the early years which I preached in a large Baptist church which was live streamed on the local radio station in their community.
The message was on learning how to lose which emphasized embracing our losses as part of our spiritual journey. It allowed me to reflect on my own experiences of loss and how they have shaped me and to share this wisdom with others.
In the book of Genesis, chapter 12, there is a reference made to Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, who was on his way to offer a sacrifice. The passage mentions that Abraham stopped between two mountain ranges, Bethel and Ai or Hai.
Bethel is often called the house of God, and it was a special place of worship for the Israelites, whereas Ai or Hai was known to be called a place of ruins, which a previous battle had destroyed.
Beloved, Abraham was on a journey, just like we are all on a journey called life, and many times during this journey, we may encounter different types of people who influence us in various ways.
In this story, Abraham is faced with a pivotal choice; he could either keep his focus on his journey or divert his attention to his surroundings, which was a place of ruins.
In summary, let us take heart and keep moving forward on our journey, realizing that failure is not the end but a stepping stone toward success, and by embracing the lessons we learn through losing, we can refine ourselves and become even stronger and more resilient in the face of adversity.
"LEARING HOW TO LOSE REFINES WHO WE ARE."
Beloved, did you know that suffering through setbacks and failures can be discouraging, even cause us to entertain the thoughts of giving up, failure is not the end of the road, but an opportunity for us to learn and grow?
Throughout this inspirational message, we will learn that adversity and setbacks serve as formidable teachers, imparting invaluable insights and experiences that enable us to better understand ourselves, our abilities, and the world around us.
beloved, experiencing failures can be a meaningful and transformative experience that allows us to gain a unique perspective on our strengths, weaknesses, and the strategies we need to adopt to achieve success in our future, and by embracing our setbacks, we can become better equipped to face future challenges with resilience and determination.
Did you know that experiencing defeat, can help us gain a greater understanding of the challenges and struggles others go through which helps us become stronger and more successful in life?
Beloved, when we focus on the lessons learned from our failures, we begin to see them as opportunities for growth rather than stumbling blocks for failure.
Missing a target in target practice is not as bad as it would be during an actual battle which could result in catastrophic consequences, such as the loss of innocent lives or the failure of a mission.
Missing a target during practice allows us to improve our aim and hone our skills to reduce the likelihood of missing the target in a real-life scenario.
In summary, setbacks are valuable growth opportunities that challenge us to re-evaluate our strategies, hone our skills, and explore new pathways toward success which serve to condition us to face adversity with unwavering confidence
"ABRAHAMS LINCOLN'S LIFE JOURNEY."
Beloved, Abraham Lincoln's remarkable journey from a young lawyer to the President of the United States is a story of perseverance and dedication. His political career began in 1834 when he was elected to the Illinois State Legislature. In 1860, he won the presidential election, becoming the 16th president of the United States.
Lincoln is known for his unwavering dedication to the abolition of slavery and his leadership during the Civil War. He delivered the iconic Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all enslaved people in the Confederate states were to be set free. The proclamation was a turning point in the Civil War and paved the way for the eventual abolition of slavery.
Abraham Lincoln faced several setbacks before becoming a successful lawyer and politician. He lost his job as a store clerk, his first business failed, and he was defeated in several elections before becoming the President of the United States. Despite these challenges, he remained determined to pursue his goals and was resilient in adversity.
In 1832, he ran for the Illinois State Legislature position but was defeated. The following year, he suffered from bankruptcy resulting from a business venture. In 1837, he faced a series of personal losses, including the death of his mother, sister, and son. Despite these personal tragedies, he continued to pursue his political aspirations. In 1838, he sought to become the speaker of the state legislature but was defeated.
In 1843, he ran for Congress but was defeated. In 1848, he tried to get re-elected to Congress but lost. In 1854, he ran for the Senate of the United States and lost. In 1856, he sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party's national convention but got less than 100 votes. In 1858, he ran again for the U.S. Senate and lost.
In 1860, Lincoln was elected the President of the United States. He steered the country through its greatest internal crisis, the Civil War, preserving the Union, abolishing slavery, strengthening the federal government, and modernizing the U.S. economy. Lincoln's ability to remain steadfast in the face of adversity and his determination to succeed despite numerous setbacks inspire people today.
"WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?"
Beloved, have you ever known people who cannot stand to lose lose and get mad at everybody when they do? In the United States, it is common for churches to have ball teams to attract young people and encourage them to participate in sports?
Did you know that some churches refuse to play against other churches because their leaders, including some pastors would become hateful and mean if their team would lose?
Beloved, close your eyes and picture this; A beautiful sunny day, a vibrant crowd, and two rival church teams facing each other in a tense ball game. The game has been going back and forth for hours, and now, it's tied and on the brink of overtime.
The spectators are perched on the edge of their seats, barely breathing, with their eyes locked on the field, and each team is determined to win. Suddenly, the batter hits the ball on a high fly, soaring toward the sky.
The crowd erupts in a frenzy of excitement, cheering and clapping as they watch the ball travel further away, and imagine if you will as everyone holds their breath waiting to see what will happen, then with a resounding thud, the ball lands on the field.
The ball was hit in the vicinity of the shortstop who covers the area out field between the second and third base line. The left fielder wanting to impress the crowd makes a dive to catch the ball while at the same time the shortstop is running backwards attempting to catch the ball, and in their haste, to make the play, they both collide into each other with neither one catching the ball, and this mistake allows the runners 1st, second and third, make it around the bases into home plate to make the score.
Imagine the coach springing into action calling for time out as he strides towards the centerfielder requesting both players join him for a discussion about the missed ball which gave several points to the opposing team.
Notice as the coach informs them that the left fielder's mistake has caused significant embarrassment to their team, and notice as he asks both players whose side they are playing for?
Beloved, the scenario of two players trying to catch the same ball and colliding with each other is a perfect illustration of our journey with Christ, for just like the players going after the same ball who wanted to be noticed, we that make up the body of Christ on earth fail to that we are on the same team and should work for the same goal as team players working in the kingdom of God.
The imaginary story I just shared, provides a clear and detailed illustration of the state of the church in today's fast-paced ever-changing world, especially with many church leaders feeling the pressure to conform and relax on the standards they once held high.
In one of his letters, the apostle Paul used the phrase "I have fought a good fight" to describe his faith journey. But what does this phrase mean? It's important to note that Paul wasn't referring to any external battles he had won against other believers or churches, but is speaking about his internal struggles to remain steadfast in the faith while trusting in God, even in the face of adversity.
Beloved, fighting the good fight of faith means standing up for what is right, even when faced opposition, and many times for Paul, this fight involved persecution, imprisonment, and even death for the gospel's sake.
This statement serves as a reminder for all believers to persevere in the good fight of faith, to stand firm in their convictions, and to trust in God in all circumstances. As Christians, we should also strive to fight the good fight of faith and stay focused on our journey with Christ.
It is essential to recognize that we are better off working together as a team and striving for unity and cooperation, especially when facing challenges and trying to achieve our goals, because with a team player mindset, we can ensure that our actions align with our values and principles and that we are not sacrificing our integrity for short-term gain.
In summary, may we not neglect the unity of the body of Christ, and may we may we always remember that our actions have consequences that not only have a lasting effect us but those around us.
MY CONCLUSION
Beloved, did you know that encountering losses and failures can become opportunities for growth teaching us to face adversities head-on, which will condition us to develop the mindset required to overcome obstacles?
Setbacks are valuable opportunities for growth, and every defeat we overcome is a stepping stone to greater strength and resilience, allowing us to face adversity with unwavering confidence, and losing is not the opposite of winning but a part of the journey towards success.
In summary, the more setbacks you experience, the more prepared you become to conquer future challenges. Developing flexibility enables you to adapt to change and stay focused on your goals, transforming your failures into valuable learning experiences that will make you stronger and wiser.
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse, Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
