The Winner Takes It All

Illustration: The man at the lottery stand shouts aloud. Be a winner and go home with millions of dollars. Everyone wants to be a winner and go home rich. But have you wondered if we are really rich in the walk of our life and getting ready to go home as winners.

Introduction: The Lord God wants us to be winners in the race of life. We must not forget that heaven is a place prepared for prepared people.

Philippians 3: 10 “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”

When it becomes a reality, it will be a blessing in our hearts.

Romans 8: 9 “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”

He alone enables us to win the battle against Satan.

If you read daily newspapers, watch TV or surf the net, you will see that Satan is winning the battle in some arenas of the world.

Thank God we can affirm like Paul who stated in 1 Timothy 4: 7 “But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.”

How can then we be WINNERS?

1. Follow the Lord in His example of HOLINESS

• Death at Calvary

• Gave the 10 commandments – able to choose and decide what is right and wrong

• Forgiveness – adulterous woman who was brought to Jesus in John 8.

Application: Can we be holy and forgive people no matter what they have done against us.

2. Follow the Lord in the example of HUMILITY

He is no ordinary man or prophet but the Son of God. Member of the Holy Trinity. He was the partaker in the creation of this world – Colossians 1: 16.

Sometimes it is difficult to comprehend that He was so humble as to have washed the feet of His disciples. John 13: 14

We serve a humble God. People confuse meekness with weakness.

The humble Lord - Matthew 11: 28, 29; James 4: 10

In Westminster Abbey London, England there is the tomb of David Livingstone. But on his brother’s tomb has written on it ‘The brother of David Livingstone.’

We may never receive that exaltation of James 4: 10 on earth but we will be winners in heaven for sure.

3. Follow the Lord in the example of EVANGELISM

The last words spoken by Jesus before He ascended into heaven he gave the great commission in Acts 1: 8.

Let us consider two thoughts concerning His last request-

Why do we receive power? So that we can witness for Christ.

Where did Jesus want us to witness? Right where we are.

Just place your own town / city / nation in Acts 1: 8.

I really appreciate how Jesus prepared lives around Him for His message of love and salvation.

(i) He cared for the specific needs of each and everyone.

(a) He healed their bodies – John 5: 1 – 9

(b) He brought comfort – John 11: 20 – 45

© He gave food to satisfy their hunger – Matt. 15: 32 – 38

Proves a blessing when we care for others / their needs / multiple problems.

(ii) Met the needs of those near Him as well as far away. He blessed and redeemed His disciples - ultimately the souls of the world via Calvary. Obviously our mission field is around us.

Illustration: A young lady in San Francisco wanted to go to China as a missionary. Therefore she applied to be a missionary to the Mission board in the USA. The mission board interviewed her and asked her 2 important questions.

(a) How far do you live from Chinatown? She said, ‘A couple of miles.’

(b) Have you been there to share the gospel with them? She replied, ‘NO!’

How sad the board could not approve her application to be a missionary. The last thing Jesus asked us to do before He ascended into heaven – ‘Go and be Witnesses.’

The first thing God will ask us when we arrive home-

Did you keep my commandments? In 1 Thessalonians 2: 19 it says there will be an award for such winners.

Conclusion: John the Baptist spoke these inspiring words that may help us in our effort to be winners. He said of Jesus in John 3: 30 ‘"He must increase, but I must decrease.”

May this reside in our hearts and in our lives for a winner will take home only what he has sown here on earth. Gal 6: 7 says, ‘For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.’