The Play

VIDEO CAN BE FOUND ON YOUTUBE--THE PLAY

The Play refers to a last-second kickoff return during a college football game between the University of California Golden Bears and the Stanford University Cardinal on Saturday, November 20, 1982. Given the circumstances and rivalry, the wild game that preceded it, the very unusual way in which The Play unfolded, and its lingering aftermath on players and fans, it is recognized as one of the most memorable plays in college football history and among the most memorable in American sports.

After Stanford had taken a 20–19 lead on a field goal with four seconds left in the game, the Golden Bears used five lateral passes on the ensuing kickoff return to score the winning touchdown and earn a disputed 25–20 victory. Members of the Stanford Band had come onto the field midway through the return, believing that the game was over---BUT IT WAS NOT OVER AND THE BEARS WERE NOT FINISHED

In watching this video, I felt like it was an overview of a year that many of us had been through. Been knocked down, beaten up, broke, abandoned, hurt, hated, despised and rejected. Felt like throwing in the towel, the enemies attack came from all directions.

The adversary was beginning to rejoice, they were celebrating and throwing a party, the band was playing their music, rejoicing because they thought that they were going to get us. But there was something inside of us that was resolved and resilient. There was a tenacious fighting spirit that was determined to keep on keeping on!

We can say like Paul said “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”

Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

In this one verse we see some important principles in action

Understand that it was the great Apostle Paul that penned this passage to parchment-

Paul layed hands on the lame man in Lystra and he walked again

Paul cast devils out of the damsel while he was in Phillipi

The garments that Paul wore dripped in the anointing that people would touch handkerchiefs he held and would be healed

Paul laid hands on a dead boy named Eutychus and life came back to him

It was Paul in poetic form while in Athens he came across an altar for the unknown God- The Athenians felt their gods was dependent upon their oblations to survive- their gods needed them- BUT PAUL said let me tell you about MY GOD- HE DOESN’T NEED ME- I NEED HIM

For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.

I COUNT NOT MYSELF APPREHENDED-

I don’t have it all figured out- Ive not arrived

This is one of the most dangerous spirits that will damage your walk with God!

I’m done- Ive got- IVE ARRIVED- Ive been doing this so long I can do it in my sleep-

Serving God has become nothing more than a habit and not a passion

Praising him is a RITUAL and NOT A RELATIONSHIP

A person that feels as if they “have arrived” some how feels entitled – since they “have arrived” they now have the responsibility of pointing out the faults and failures of others.

CAN I JUST SAY THAT PERSON YOUR POINTING AT- MIGHT HAVE FLAWS YOU DON’T HAVE- BUT IM SURE YOU HAVE SOME THEY DONT NOT HAVE!

WHILE YOU ARE BUSY PUTTING THEM UNDER THE MICROSCOPE TO REMOVE THE SPLINTER FROM THEIR EYE- WHY DON’T YOU TAKE A STEP BACK AND REMOVE THE 2x4 FROM YOUR EYE.

BUT THIS ONE THING-RESOLUTION

One young boy asked his father what his new years resolution was, and his father said he was going to do everything possible in the new year to make his mother very happy. The boy asked his mother what hers was, and she said, “To do everything possible to make sure your father keeps his resolution.”

forgetting those things which are behind

and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Ecc 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Ecc 3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

Ecc 3:3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

Ecc 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;