THE EYE OF THE TIGER
By: Pastor Ron Crandall
Intro: It is always fun to minister at a camp filled with young people. I love coming and seeing God challenge you to a deeper walk with him. How many of you have seen the movie “Rocky?” I love the movie because it takes a nobody and through trials, pressure and training provides us with a champion.
I want you to know that God looks at you not as losers but winners…. He has called this generation to be the rocky’s for your friends called Generation X. Hey you may have colored hair and I tell ya, some of you guys have interesting clothes… God is not interested in your clothing, he is interested in what is inside of the clothing and colored hair.
You can minister to young people I can’t even get close to, not because I don’t care, but you know the language you know what is in and what is out. Yet in the midst of all that I want to challenge you in the next few moments not to forget God! The word says “that we are to remember our creator in the days of our youth…”
So lets go back tonight for a few moments and look at Rocky Balboa and see some spiritual applications we can draw from this block buster movie, but I have news for you if you thought he was bad, cool, rad or whatever the term is today … The God I serve is the mega block buster!
Like many of you in my youth I was rebellious and my parents well I thank God for them day and night. Because they always believed in me, even when I did not believe in myself.
I want you to know tonight that many will make fun of your language, clothing and hair styles... Guys, I didn’t come tonight to be your judge, just a servant.
I believe that you just like me need someone to believe in you. And that is why God sent me here tonight, you may be a blood, a crip, a surfer, or even a wanna be surfer the same blood that was shed for me is for you also.
In the Movie "Rocky" Sylvester Stallone has a dream, but he needed trainging enter my favorite bug eyed old man "Mick."
Mick did not have all the up town equipment but he knew how to train fighters and so he took on this kid called "Rocky." An unknown at first but the kid had heart and he trained and fought like a man pocessed by a dream or vision.
Just before the Big fight we see him running up those stairs... man there is alot of them too... he should have won a medal just for making it to the top of the stairs.
He dances and shadow boxes and we hear the sound of the music building and then ring of the bell and the fight is on... He begins to lay ahold of the dream.
If you have a bible tonight turn with me to:
Text:
Phil 3:13-14
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
(NIV)
Mark: in the Greek
4649 skopos (skop-os’) ("scope");
from skeptomai (to peer about ["skeptic"]; perhaps akin to 4626 through the idea of concealment; compare 4629); a watch (sentry or scout), i.e. (by implication) a goal:
a mark on which to fix the eye, to aim at an object
KJV-- mark
Ezek 3:17
17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.
(NIV)
I Jn 2:20
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
(NIV)
I Jn 2:27
27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit-- just as it has taught you, remain in him.
(NIV)
1.) Rocky the fighter:
The calling apart:
Matt 10:2
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; (NIV)
Peter acknowledges the Son of God
Luke 9:20-25
20 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."
21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.
22 And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?
(NIV)
2.) Rocky on the Ropes:
In every "Rocky" the champ wins and looses their is always a time when he is hit so hard that he is what they call in fighting "on the ropes."!
We are no different we win and sad to say many of us loose not because we do not have the Power, but we "loose the eye of the tiger" or Focus. I have a friend who is a Golden Gloves Champion and he once told me that when he did not focus and stay alert... He got pounded. He went from Golden Gloves Champion to Preacher....
Jesus foretells the denial to Peter:
22:31-34
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
(KJV)
The Denial:
Mark 14:66-72
66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
(KJV)
An optimist is someone who thinks the good ole days are yet to come!
Rocky on the rebound:
Peter goes to the tomb to see for himself:
Luke 12:2 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
(KJV)
We see Jesus’ love for Peter
John 21:15-17
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
(NIV)
I always loved hearing mick say “You can do it kid” “Go knock his block off” He always recognized the champion that laid inside of Rocky.
I want you to know God recognizes that he made you a champion from your mothers womb and stand here tonight saying you can do get and mighty things for my kingdom. Go take the battle to the enemy and knock his block off… how win your friends walk a holy life…. And Live for Jesus!
Rocky the Destroyer:
Harken to my words:
Acts 2:14-18
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!
16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 "’In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
(NIV)
Silver and Gold have I none, But what I have I give you:
Acts 3:6-8
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.
(NIV)
Peter was not the only one to rebound:
Look at :
Adam-the original sin
David- Murder and adultery
Moses - Murder and disobedience
Young people we can always be influenced or we can choose to be the influence!
We can always look at other and find reasons why not to serve God or we can choose to take a stand for Christ.
So tonight I challenge you to be the Rocky Balboa’s
of this generation. Keeping your eye on the prize of the High Calling!
Invitation:
