THE STEPS THAT MAKE A CHAMPION FOR CHRIST

We have just completed the 2002 winter Olympics. The competitors worked for many years and competed in countless meets to get the chance to participate in the Olympics. Some activities involve only one contestant some two, some just a small group, and some multiple contestants in teams. Many rules governed their approach toward the championship.

God's son was a champion. God will have a champion for His church and His Bride.

First you have to become grafted into the vine.

Spiritually Alive

(John 3:1-5) There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, 'low can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus Answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.


You cannot enter into the kingdom of God just because your parents or your children can enter the kingdom. You cannot buy your way into it. You can 't even visit it until you become willing to exchange your old lift for a new one.

THE WAY

(Romans 10: 6-10) But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, who shall ascend into heaven? (That is to bring Christ down from above:) Or, who shall descend into the deep? (That is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

And now you have become a new creature. A babe with much to learn, and a whole lot of growing to do. God has a plan for your lift but you will need a lot of help before that plan can be put in place. You already promised that you were willing to do whatever the Lord wanted of you. You are excited and beginning to feel the urging of the Spirit to reach greater heights in the Lord

If you desire to reach higher goals in the world you need to have a mentor. In business, it can be a boss or a higher level technician, or a classroom. If your interest is in sports than you must choose a professional coach. After all, you may become good enough to become the best some day. In the spiritual world there is none greater than the Lord and His word was set forth to prepare you for all things.

SELECTING A WINNING COACII

The Word of God is absolutely your guide to becoming a champion.

( Psalm 86:11) Teach me thy way, 0 Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
( Romans 8:14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

So a coach will help you. -- In ice skating a coach teaches you what is required in order for you to master the fundamentals. In sports such as football there is a head coach to help you understand the fundamentals of the game. --The word of God does the same. You have to pay attention and learn what is being taught. You must practice and strive to achieve.

Learn, Understand, and try to Achieve the standards

(Matthew 5: 3-16) Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Instructors


Most coaches have assistants to work with participants to give them help in understanding and practicing those things that need to be achieved. God does the same.

(Ephesians 4: 11-12) And he gave some, apostles, and some, prophets, and some, evangelists, and some, pastors and teachers: For the perfecting of the saints , for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

Enjoy

You will never be a good achiever if you do not enjoy what your are doing enjoy. If you bowl, you must enjoy bowling or you will never try to get a higher score. If you are playing football you must enjoy it or you will never overcome the rough treatment of tackling that is part of the game. Nor will you continue in the endless exercises to stretch your muscles, and watch your diet.

If there is no joy in your service to God, there will be no growth. You will begin to wither

(Romans 7: 22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.

( Psalm 70: 4) Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

(Psalm 104:34) My meditation of him shall be sweet, I will be glad in the Lord.
( Psalm 119: 15-16)1 will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 1 will delight myself in thy statues: I will not forget thy word.

PASSION TO WIN

Winning must become a driving desire that will allow nothing to interfere with your pursuit of the prize. You will not be satisfied to be mediocre. In most earthy pursuits, winning brings recognition, fame, and many times money There is little recognition for those who don't finish in the top three. Only the one who did the best is considered a winner. In God's world it doesn't matter who comes in first, only that finish what you started you must have a passion to please Him and someday see him. Without that passion you will become a lukewarm Christian and will not be pleasing to Him. He wants your most because He gave His most. He wants you love, because He gave His love for you. You must have a passion to reach Him.

(Psalm 42:1) As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, 0 God.
(Psalm 63: 1 0 God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirst land, where no water is;

( Psalm 84:2) My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth, for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

(Matthew 5: 6) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.

PREPARING TO WIN

How does one prepare to win? In the natural world one must keep healthy, eat properly, train regularly, exercise dutifully, listen to one's coach and instructors and keep trying.

The spiritual world isn't all that different. You cannot be a sickly Christian. You must eat a proper diet, exercise your faith, pray for guidance, listen to the word and Spirit of God. However there are two additional duties. You must also spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Your life must reflect him in your everyday pursuits. And, you must overcome the enemy of your soul. Those are two big additions.

(2 Timothy 2: 15) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

(Ephesians 6: 10-19) Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. .Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication for all saints.

FINDING YOUR PLACE

Well, you have done very well. You have learned your lessons, you have joy in the Lord, You have a passion to serve him and meet Him some day, but, where do you belong?

You haven 't been called to preach, nor do you have the gifts spoken of in the Word. How do you find your place?

(Romans 12: 12-14,27-31) For as the body is one, and hath many members;, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts; and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.

Let me tell you there is a lot more to the body than just the ear, or the eye, or the hand, or the nose, or the foot. There is the skeleton, there are cells that rush to quell an infection, and there are enzymes that help keep the whole body healthy. There is the liver for purifying the blood, and the lungs to send life giving oxygen throughout the body, not to mention the heart that keeps the blood coursing through the body, or the kidneys that help rid the body of poisons.

The Word says there are helps. Prayer Warriors, peace makers, shoulders on which to lean, hearts that love and comfort, motivators, friends, greeters, ushers, deacons, elders, singers, weepers, providers to those in need, program managers, clerks, rocks not easily moved by storms and winds, devil chasers, and watchmen. So many parts of the body that must come together as one and must work for the benefit of the whole body.

THE PRIZE

The prize differs with the sport. With some the prize is fame. With others it is a reward for long and hard work as well as a medal. With others it is money all of these will fade away with time. Some persons who become famous may be remembered for many years, but in time that too will fade away. Putting our treasure in Heaven means it will never fade away. It will be waiting for us when we get there, and we will have it forever. We will be a part of a kingdom that will never pass away
and we will live in it forever.

(Philippians 3: 7-13) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained. either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but his one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. 1 press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

(Revelations 3:12,21) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God and he shall go no
more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.