Winning is everything

How many of you in here actually play sports?
What sports are represented?

How many of you like to win?
What does it feel like to win?
How many of you like to lose?

We like to win don’t we? It is an amazing feeling when you can push yourself to the limits and accomplish something.

Winning takes place on all fronts, athletics, school, home, and spiritually as well.

And this morning I want you to walk away with the main point:
WINNING IS EVERYTHING.

We are told by Paul. That if you are going to be the man or woman that God wants you to be, you have to be a winner.

If you have your bibles turn to:
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others; I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Most of us in here get this passage. In one way or another we apply that to our lives. Probably most of us in here have applied it to our respective sports because we want to be the best in that sport.

But how many of us daily apply it to our walk with God?
God has a course laid out for us.

Matthew 7:13-14
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

So we all know that in this life. We have a course. God has something for each and every one of us to do here. According to the text, it is a small path. Not many people will be on the same path as us.

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us:
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

God has it all planned out for us. He has something that is right for each and every one of us. God wants us to succeed.
He wants us to accomplish the thing that he has set out before us.

But sometimes we get in the way. Whether it is because of arrogance or pride, whatever it is it blocks us from the provision and blessing that God has for us.

We need to rely on God wholeheartedly here on earth.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Does that mean that if we trust in the Lord with everything that it will be easy? No way. It is a daily battle. It is the battle or competition if you will that builds into exactly what God wants us to be.

There will be trials in this battle there will be persecution.

The bible tells us that in
2 Timothy 3:12
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

But the good thing is we know that already. We know what we’re up against. We just need to train and prepare ourselves everyday.

We need to take on the challenge like James, in James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Our coach and biggest fan, God, is training us to be the person (athlete if you will) for Him, in this battle.
What a privilege!
What an honor!

But what are we doing?
Are we training like we should?
Is anything besides winning even an option for us?

Those are questions you must answer.
If you’re on the side of the cross, you’re on the right team. I have read the book and know who wins. But what are we doing for our friends and family? Are we taking a winning mentality into battle on a daily basis? If not, we need to start praying for that area of our lives.

What happens if you’re that person that says, “Brian I try to do great things but I always fail.” Or “I try to do stuff for God but it never works out.”
God sees your heart. He sees you are doing your best for Him.
Remember what god wants from us?

God wants us to be all about him.
What are the two greatest commandments?
Love God
Love others more than ourselves.

We win when we do this daily.
Let’s be about winning. Let’s be about winning at home, at school and in life.

Let’s take this challenge head on, because as Paul said and we know:
WINNING IS EVERYTHING!