WHAT ABOUT THE SUPERBOWL OF LIFE?
TEXT- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
INTRODUCTION
A great preacher, who had a lot of influence on me, gave me the following advice. He said, “Doug, I have found it better to preach on a topic that is relevant for the day or event that is taking place. I believe the people will listen to that type of sermon on that Sunday.”
Well, I have been taking his advice and I will continue to do that today. So, what DAY is it in the U.S.A. today? Right, it is what THE WORLD CALLS Super Bowl Sunday. We all wait for this event of the year. The men who love it wait for this event and many of the women who detest it wait for it also. They have their plans.
I’m going to give you two quotes and I want you to see if they give the same advice. The first one goes as following:
1st Corinthians 9:24-27
---24---“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
---25---Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
---26---Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
---27---but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”
Now the next quote says this:
“Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an ALL the time thing. You don’t win once in a while; you don’t do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately so is losing.”
Every time a football player goes to ply his trade he’s got to play from the ground up- from the soles of his feet right up to his head. Every inch of him has to play. Some guys play with their heads. That’s OK you’ve got to be smart to be number one in any business. But more importantly you’ve got to play with your heart, with every fiber of your body.
Running a football team is no different than running any other kind of organization- an army, a political party or a business. The principles are the same. The object is to win.
To know the rules and objectives when they get into the game. The object is to win fairly, squarely, by the rules- but to win.
I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour- his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear- is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause, and he is exhausted on the field of battle- VICTORIOUS.”
This last statement was made by the football coach that won the first two Super Bowls, and he has the reputation as being the greatest Professional football coach that has ever coached the game. His name was Vince Lombardi and he coached the green Bay Packers.
When you read both of these statements, we should see that we need the same things to win in the super bowl of life as the players need to day to win. Let’s look at some comparisons between the two and I think you will get my message for today.
THE PLAYERS NEED THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT
These players will need more than just jerseys and pants to be properly equipped to play. They will be wearing helmets to protect their face and head- shoulder pads- rib pads for some- hip and butt pads- thigh pads- kneepads –angles wrapped and shoes with the proper cleats. With this equipment they would not last but a few plays. They know they cannot win this game today without the right equipment.
Christians also need the right kind of equipment to win in the super bowl of life. Christians need to be adequately equipped. God provide that for all of us.
2nd Timothy 3:16-17
---16---“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
---17---so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
Paul also talks about other things that we will need
Ephesians 6: 10-17
---10---“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
---11---Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
---12---For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
---13---Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
---14---Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
---15---and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
---16---in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
---17---And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Paul speaks more about the sword, because it can be a defensive weapon but also an offensive weapon. He describes what it can do for us
Hebrews 4:12
---12---“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
THE SUPER BOWL WINNERS WILL NEED THEIR LEADER
They need their leader that they call the coach. They will need his knowledge to come up with a game plane that will win when executed properly. They will need the coach’s experience to make good judgments in situations that might occur during the game. They will need to communicate with the coach so they can always understand what and when they should do certain things or NOT do certain things.
They will need his discipline to be in shape and ready to play and the discipline it takes to be prepared for what ever happens in that game today.
CHRISTIANS NEED THEIR LEADERS FOR THE SAME THINGS
We need God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit to leads through this game of life in order to win. We must function to gather as a team with cohesion that moves as one. Our Savior prayed for this to happen in John, Chapter 17 as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.
John 17: 11
---11---“I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You, Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.”
God will provide three things we as Christians have to have and that is Love, Grace and forgiveness.
GOD’S LOVE
God’s love is a part of his game plan for us. God’s love has always been eternal. It will be with us from the beginning to the very end of life. Love is God’s nature.
1st John 4:8
---8---“The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
What does eternal mean? It means it is always there for us, unconditional. His love is not going to stop in this life or the next. God’s love is not like man’s love. Man’s love is like- I loved you yesterday but what have you done for me today! Will God love me even if I fumble the ball? Yes, even if we fumble the ball! Will God love me if I throw an interception? Yes, even if I throw an interception
Yes, His love is unconditional. Paul writes in Romans 5:8
Romans 5:8
---8---But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
He also says in Romans 5:5
---5---“…and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
His love is sacrificial. John 3:16
---16---“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
His love is expressed and experienced only through the Christ.
John 15:13
---13---“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
GOD’S GRACE
Yes He gives us His grace and this is part of the His plan. Grace comes to us through Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “…grace and knowledge comes by Jesus Christ.”
Will there be enough of God’s Grace to amply supply us through out this contest with the EVIL of the universe? Or will we run out of Grace? When life gets tough and we are taking the hard shots of life, when we are blocked and tacked by the 300 lb linemen, and slammed to the ground on the linebacker blitz, or a quarterback sack. Will there be enough Grace to supply our need as Christians?
The Apostle Paul wrote about his in his letter to the Church in Corinth. In 2nd Corinthians 12:9
2nd Corinthians 12: 9
---9---“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”
He had a thorn in the flesh and he asked God 3 times to remove it. If you look at all the horrible times Paul went through in life and now it is compounded by a thorn in the flesh- what ever that was, I don’t know, but God’s answer to him and us was, “My grace is sufficient for you.” God’s Grace is part of His plan and it will be SUFFICIENT for all of us.
GOD’S FORGIVENESS
You see, there was a time when, as part of mankind and Adam’s child we lost our relationship with God. Then we needed forgiveness, but in order to get it from a Holy God that cannot tolerate sin, it was impossible for us to get it on our own. But our God is so great that he loved us and from the foundation of the world
He had a plan to reconcile us back to Himself through His Son’s sacrifice for all sin. His Son’s atoning Blood was shed on Calvary’s cross so that we might be forgiven. We now had a relationship with God again through the perfection of His son.
Yes, Part of God’s plan for us to win the super bowl of life was to grant His forgiveness to those who call upon his name. There is no other name under heaven whereby Man must be saved.
God’s not like man when he forgives because He really forgives. When we became a member of His team, when we obey from the heart that form of doctrine that was delivered to us, when we answered the call of the Gospel of Christ, He forgave our past.
Our past, in the old days when we played for the opponent of life, God has forgiven and forgotten and remembers those old days no more. We became a new creation in Christ. There now is no grudges- no bad feelings because God’s game plan called for complete forgiveness.
The beauty of it is that He will continue to forgive His own, because He knows we still are not perfect players and we still make mistakes. There are days we don’t play up to our level, days when we just get lazy or rebellious.
On those days, God will not take us out of the game, run us out of the dressing room, or throw us completely out of the stadium. If we ask Him, He will keep us on the team, if we really want to stay. The only person that can take us out of the game is us. We have to choose to do it ourself. God will grant forgiveness and restoration to our place on the team. If we ask!
THEN THERE IS GOD’S PRESENCE
God has granted us His presence in our life. His plan calls for that, so don’t shut your leader out. From the very beginning God was present in Man’s life. In the Garden of Eden God was present, but when sin came we lost it, because sin separates us from God. God’s plan called for His presence. What would we do without it?
Moses discovered this problem. It is recorded in Exodus 33:15
Exodus 33:15
---15---“Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.”
The psalmist writes in Psalm 139, “When I awake, I am still with Thee.” We must have God’s presence to be successful in the super bowl of life.
Hebrews 4:16
---16---“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
THE ACTIONS WE ALL MUST TAKE
In today’s game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers, The ownership and coaches can provide every thing the team needs to win; but, in the end, the game must be won on the FIELD, by the players. They must be mentally prepared, execute the game plan and play with all their heart to win. There are certain things that only the players can do to claim the victory.
In our Christian Super Bowl there are certain things we must do to claim victory
· Demonstrate God’s love- “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
· Communicate God’s Word so that everybody will know His will for their lives.
· Celebrate God’s presence as James says in James 4:8, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
· Edify God’s People – the players on the field will do that! They will encourage each other, support each other, help each other, so as a team we will win together.
· Function as God’s people as Paul tells the church in Ephesus. He said in Ephesians 2:22, “In whom you are being built together into a dwelling of god in the Spirit.”
INVITATION
