TRAINING TO WIN
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER
Many are called few are chosen
Matthew 22:9-14 (KJV) Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. [10] So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. [11] And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: [12] And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. [13] Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [14] For many are called, but few are chosen.
He had failed to appropriate what the king provided for he was not wearing the proper wedding clothes. (Apparently the king gave them all wedding clothes as they arrived, for they came off the streets [v. 10]. A person must respond not only outwardly, but also he must be rightly related to God the King by appropriating all the King provides.) Consequently this guest was cast out into a place of separation and suffering. (For comments on weeping and gnashing of teeth, see 13:42.) While the kingdom had now been expanded to include individuals from all races and backgrounds (many are invited), there is an election (few are chosen). And yet individual response is essential.
Will you be the few good man?
In the bible we find that God chooses only a few good men.
In the bible we see God using the minority instead of the majority.
Matthew 7:14 (KJV) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Why? Not because he doesn’t want to use the majority cause he can only find so few good men.
This morning question to you is do you want to be the few good man?
1 Cor. 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
If you want to win? What must you do?
TRAIN
In the ancient Greek Olympic games, an athlete would begin training at least 10 months before the race. This training involved rigorous discipline. It included the athlete’s diet, his sleep habits, his exercise routine, and his daily running.
His goal was literally to punish his body until he was in the best possible shape to win. Then, one month before the games, the athlete would move to Corinth, 10 miles from where the games were held. He was assigned a personal coach who put him through additional rigors in preparation for the race. This meant early rising and long days spent lifting weights, exercising, pushing himself to the edge of his strength. All this was done in order to prepare to run the race of his life.
Whatever his success, it was due, to a great extent, to his preparation. No training is more important than that done for the marathon.
So it is in the Christian life. If we are to run the race in life that God has set for us, we must develop a lifestyle of discipline in order to win that race. As one noted basketball coach once stated, “The will to win is not nearly as important as the will to prepare to win.”
We Christians must prepare to win through training, discipline, and hard work. You enter God’s race when you receive by faith the free gift of eternal life through Jesus. You will run that race until you die and inherit what God has prepared for you.
Paul’s commitment to this course of ministry did not come easily. It required personal discipline (strict training) like that of an athlete who strove for supremacy in his field.
To that end Paul willingly gave up certain privileges which might otherwise be his to enjoy so that he could win the prize.
We need to understand that when we were born again the devil gets to angry and he doesn’t give up. He will try to destroy through tempting you to sin so that you will not be able to win the race.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Ensnare us: trap: to catch an animal in a trap
One president said “Without discipline true freedom cannot survive.”
At Tabernacle of Joy God has given a training program at every level. The question we you be committed to it.
You have to choose. No decision is a decision not to choose!
Jesus Christ will not intimidate you nor will he manipulate you nor dominate you.
You have to choose!
So why do you train?
2Corin 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
It is the love of Christ that is motivating us. This love will change our value system.
1 John 5:3 (NKJV) For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
What I found out when I got married.
Imagine she is from one family with different value systems and I am from another. (Two different way of doing things). And after the honey moon stage, the relationship will go on to the next level conflict stage. And what I found I begin to change because of I love her and she begin to change because she loves me. And we will move on to the community level.
That is what exactly happens when you get to know Christ, he will change you. Whatever He values you will value.
Share a winning formula to a Christian life!
For us to win we need to have a servant attitude.
Matthew 20:26-28 (NKJV) Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. [27] And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- [28] just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Matthew 10:24 (NKJV) A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
Mark 9:35 (NKJV) And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."
One of the most common word that the apostles use to describe their relationship with Jesus Christ is to be a “servant”
In order to be a winner in God’s kingdom you need to be a servant.
In the kingdom of God, we have a different operating system.
Operating system: master control program in a computer.
Who is the master? Jesus. How did he operate to serve others.
Operating system: master control program in a computer.
Who is the master? Adam & Eve made a choice they wanted to be God look what mess they made. How did they operate to serve self.
I am not save by works but unto good works.
I don’t do works to get save the reason. I do go works cause I am save.
I don’t get good to get God! I get God to get good!
When that happens I don’t need to be so obsessed with what people think! Or what I think!
If you are too concern about what other thinks and what you think about yourself you are self-absorb!
Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
PRIDE OF LIFE!
Matt 6:24 for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon
In the Old Testament
Exodus 21:5-6 (NKJV) But if the servant plainly says, ’I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ [6] then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.
Being a servant is hard. To willfully think of others on a continual basis is hard to do.
It is hard because most of the time our minds a preoccupied with the thought of
“What satisfies me”?
The most difficult part of becoming a servant is overcoming the fleshes compelling desire that each one as to do what we want to do.
Shakespeare once said “All the world is a stage”.
And to a certain point that is true.
Our problem is that we think wewant to be the star of the stage. Our flesh has us convinced that we are center stage. We get that way because we look at everything from our own vantage point.
Many years ago God spoke to me concerning my attitude. He said just because you are willing to serve in a particular ministry doesn’t mean that you have a servant attitude.
All of us like to do things that we like, t is easy, Amen!
One of the things that a servant does not have is rights. He is not given an option he does things that people normally wouldn’t do.
See whether if I ask you to do something like washing the toilet will you still be willing to do it?
That is the test.
This flows out from a relationship of love
Five things are needed to get your spiritual heart in shape, develop your spiritual muscles, strengthen your faith, and stretch your mind for Christ.
You need to have
I. A STRONG COMMITMENT.
A runner must be strongly committed to a training program. It is not easy. It takes hard work and discipline. Otherwise, he will fall by the wayside.
Think of all the would-be joggers. First they get the best shoes and the sharpest jogging outfit. Then they map out the course. They are all set and have the best intentions in the world. But when that alarm goes off, they reach over and hit the snooze button. Then the next day, bad weather hits. They put it off once again. Their jogging ends up being limited to the errands they run at the office or to the post office. Why? Because their grand illusions had no commitment.
Training to win happens only with a strong commitment! Commitment is a lost word today. Real commitment is making a solid agreement to do something in the future—no matter what. It is being obligated to a task or a person, whether it is athletics, marriage, or yes, Christianity.
Commitment is costly. It costs time, hard work, and self-denial. You will need discipline regarding the Word of God — studying it, medi-tating on it. A time of regular prayer is nonnegotiable. Commitment to serving in the Lord’s church is a must. God seeks a commitment that requires self-denial, saying no to the world and yes to Christ.
Matthew 16:24 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Isaiah 59:16 (KJV) And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
Take up the cross. Jesus willingly “endued the cross, scorning its shame”
II. SACRIFICE
Genesis 4:3-6 (NKJV) And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. [4] Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, [5] but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. [6] So the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
We see in the life of Cain and Abel
• Both were believers.
• Both give sacrifices
• But one was respected or accepted the other not.
• If God can reject Cain sacrifice He could reject ours too.
Ponder a bit: I wonder how many times when we come to God our sacrifice is not accepted.
God is not just looking for sacrifice.
Cain represented the Christian who decide to do things his way. (MY WAY). In fact Cain brought his offering out of his convenient. We cannot serve God because it is convenient. When circumstances suit me!
(What benefited me).
We don’t sacrifice to make God love us . We sacrifice cause we know we are greatly love by God.
When your way becomes more important than His, you are no longer serving God you are serving yourself. Self will.
When you serve you are not the star! You make him the STAR!
When you serve or worship him it is never to make yourself look good! It is about making him look good.
The backbone of worship is obedience.
III. A SPECIAL DIET.
Paul says we are to be “nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:6). A proper balanced diet is critical to the marathon runner. The same is true for the Christian.
Matthew 16:24 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
First He must deny self.
-our selfish ambitions to rise above other people.
-our selfish behaviors to get what we want
-our selfish attitudes of caring only for our own interests and
-our selfish desires to put our needs first above anyone else.
To deny it means: don’t feed it. Identify the source for your selfishness, and stray away from those things.
To some it may be:
• Deny reading books or magazines that stimulate those thoughts.
• Deny day dreaming about having more things or controlling people
• Deny watching movies or televisions shows and feed those impulses.
• Deny hanging out with people who drag you down and offer selfish meat.
• Deny listening to music that makes selfishness seem normal.
• Deny gossiping, criticizing, cursing, lying, stealing, acting selfishly in any way, shape or form.
Starving our selfishness will be a shock to our systems!
You probably won’t do well as a runner if your three basic food groups are TV dinners, junk food, and fast food. Strenuous workouts can burn an extra 1500 calories a day. The fatigue factor will set in if a person doesn’t consume a high-energy diet.
Just as carbohydrates provide fuel for the body, so God’s Word provides high-energy spiritual food for the soul. I’m afraid a lot of folks are suffering from spiritual fatigue, because they are spiritually malnourished. Nourished is the key here. We must be nourished by feeding on the right food, God’s Word, and digesting it in our spiritual system.
III. A STRENUOUS WORKOUT.
Rigorous exercise is the third step in training to win. Successful athletes know they must train and work out. Physical discipline produces endurance. Spiritual discipline produces godliness. This godliness includes a heartfelt respect and awestruck reverence for God. Physical training may be good for now, but spiritual training will be good for eternity!
God’s word can build up our spiritual strength. We must build up our strength through studying God’s Word, continuing in prayer, and persevering through trials. We must exercise control of our bodies as we respond to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We must hasten our speed by being quick to obey the Word. We must enhance our endurance through our devoted service to Christ.
1 Peter 1:7 (KJV) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
IV. A SURE HOPE.
Training is hard work, but it is not without its reward. We have to believe training is going to pay off. Christians must have a steadfast confidence about the future.
In a word, hope is confidence, a God-confidence that the race will go well. If I train well, I have reason to hope that I will win the race. If I discipline myself, I have reason to hope that one day I will taste His victory.
That’s the kind of hope any football player has when he attends two-a-day practices. The insanity of those practices is endured for only one reason. It is a commitment to prepare for victory. Today’s training determines tomorrow’s victory.
What is true in the athletic world is equally true in God’s kingdom. Spiritual victory comes at a price. It requires discipline, training, and hard work in preparing for spiritual victory. But if we persevere, victory will come.
CONC: I want to encourage you today with some fantastic news. We have a Coach whose business is taking raw recruits like you and me and molding us into spiritual champions. He has an unsurpassed record for producing real winners who submit to His Lordship. His name is Jesus.
