Pastor Dave Martin Cross Creek Community Church ~ Feb 6, 2005
Be a Winner for Christ!
In September of 1995, the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters suffered a rare defeat on the basketball court as they toured Europe with a team made up of several former professional basketball stars. The 91-85 defeat in Vienna, Austria, ended the team’s winning streak at twenty-four-years, that is years, not games! The team had won an astounding total of 8,829 straight exhibition games since their last defeat before that in January, 1971.
Today in the Word, January, 1998, p. 36
A prison inmate scratched on the wall of his cell his philosophy of life: "Born to lose." As a Christian we believe that we are born again to win.
• God’s Word often compares the Christian life to an athletic in a race.
• This morning let’s look at what it takes to be a winner for Jesus Christ.
• We all want to be a winner rather than a loser. Competitive by nature we want to come out on top!
Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Winners...
1. Determine to get into position to win.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles...
• Some Christians have opted out of the Christian race sitting on the bench.
• Others may be wandering around without direction for their lives.
• Some may be walking slowly but not engaged in running the race... we must be determined to win.
• Years ago I was involved in building and preparing cars to compete in demolition derbies. We would do practically anything we could in order to position ourselves to win the heat. Some of the tricks were to weld the spider gears in the rear end to make it true posi-traction. We would add special coolant to the radiator to help prevent overheating. We cut special holes through the floor board so if the linkage messes up we could shift the transmission by hand. We cut a hole through the hood and run a rope to the carburetor to pull if the gas pedal linkage goes bad. Place the battery inside the passenger compartment, modify fuel line with extra gas for a manual switch should the gas take get ruptured...
• Why did we do all these things? We desired to be a winner! We determined to get into position to win!
• In order to be a winner for Christ, we too must get into the position to win.
• Determine means to resolve, to decide, to choose. It starts in your mind – an attitude to win for Christ.
• We’re not in competition with each other but with the world, the fleshly nature and the devil.
• You may feel stuck in the snow, spinning your wheels and going nowhere for Christ
• In verse 1 God gives us a prescription to have our spider gears welded for better traction in life of faith.
Get into Position by Throwing Off...
• Everything that Hinders
o God tells us to throw off everything that hinders (A bulk or mass of something).
o Things that weigh you down, diverts your attention, saps your energy and enthusiasm for God.
o Your use of time? Your television viewing habits? Your emphasis on possessions? Money?
o These “things” may not necessarily be bad or sinful but hindrances to your Christian growth.
o The Internet is a wonderful invention (thanks to Al Gore) just don’t get dominated by it.
• Sin that Entangles
o The Greek seems to indicate a specific sin in an area where you are weak.
o Unbelief, a lack of trust will always allow sin to raise it’s ugly head.
o When we determine to be a winner for Christ we will take the necessary steps to run the race.
o The enemy knows your weakness, your vulnerability and that is where he will attack.
o Sin becomes exceedingly sinful. Habits, entangles, ambushes, smothering us.
o Choking out your assurance, confidence and testimony... producing despair & defeat.
o Feeling of being a loser, with no hope, outlook for life, all alone, a miserable failure.
2. Faithfully live by God’s Rules.
“...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
• Race is “agon” from where we get our word agony. A race is grueling, demanding, tiring.
• A race requires self-discipline, determination and not quitting half way through.
• We run the race of life according to God’s Rule Book – the Bible.
• Let me read a few verses from Psalm 119, from the Lord directly to you...
Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
Psalm 119:37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.
Psalm 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
• “Perseverance” is a steady determination to keep going. Being a marathon runner and not a sprinter.
• We motivated by the cloud of witnesses of Chpt 11 – Great believers who ran the race of faith.
• Runners faithfully run their life by God’s set of rules not their own. Staying on His course in His will.
• Faithfulness keeps us from getting sidetracked and detoured through life... Faithfulness is so important.
Galatians 5:7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?
Do you want to be blessed by God?
Luke 11:28 He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
3. Continually Focus upon Christ.
“...Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith”
• Where should your focus be in a race? On your feet? Sidelines? Looking ahead?
• Your focus as you run the life of faith is vital to success. Stay Christ focused not self-focused.
• Don’t compare yourself with others or you’ll be disappointed and crash... look to Jesus!
• Why on Jesus? He’s the originator, the pioneer, the author, the perfect example of our faith.
• The completer of our faith. Remember Christ’s Words - “It is Finished”, “He is not here, He has risen”!
Philip. 3:13-14 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
• It is worth it all! You are making a difference! Stay in the race! Don’t become sidelined!
4. Progress Through God’s Discipline Training.
Hebrews 12:6-8, 11 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." 7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons... 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
• God uses hardship and affliction as a means of discipline for training His children toward maturity.
• We often suffer painful consequences for our sins, but will never experience God’s judgment for them.
• Christ Jesus took our sin & punishment on Calvary. Rom 8:1 “There is now no condemnation...”
• God’s punishment along the race of life is always corrective but not judgmental. It is for our good!
• God disciplines us in order to protect us from harm (As in telling the kids not to play in the street)
• His Word is good – 10 commandments are there for a reason. Sin always destroys (ex. Adultery)
• His discipline teaches us, educates us toward becoming more Christ-like in righteousness & holiness.
• Divine discipline proves 1.) God’s love and our 2.) Relationship as a son.
• A disciplined child respects his parents... discipline demonstrates love & care for your children.
Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the LORD’S discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
• Parents who discipline their children will grow their character, faith, love, strength, right living, etc.
• If you do not experience chastening from the Lord, you do not belong to Him.
Conscience – Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Grieving by sin Ephes. 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Quenching by disobedience 1 Thes. 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit.
Training, Correction, - Heb. 12:7 Endure “hardship” as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
Sickness/Death - 1 Cor. 11:30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
5. Serve & Worship God receiving an Eternal Reward!
Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."
• We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken! What an eternal reward, better than any trophy!
• A winner for Christ will be anxiously pursuing that goal. Pressing on, serving in reverence & awe.
• “Worship” is better translated serve (8:5, 9:9, 10:2, 13:10)
• Thanking Him, serving Him, worshiping Him... overflowing with a heart of praise & adoration.
• In Christ your future glorification is assured! Christ is presently preparing a place for you!
• In worship offering Holy service to our Awesome God! Being in the race to win an eternal reward!
I would rather lose in a cause that will some day win, than win in a cause that will some day lose.
Woodrow Wilson (attributed), Speaker’s Idea File, p. 3.
2 Tim. 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Some Winners for Christ...
*** PICTURES of Cross Creek Family***
You WIN with Jesus!
Let’s Pray
