The Eye Of The Tiger!

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.