HE CHOSE TO GIVE US VICTORY

Transcription

1 HE CHOSE TO GIVE US VICTORY 1 Corinthians 15:54-58; Romans 8:37 March 18, 2018 Pastor Dennis Henley High School pep rallies Always high energy affairs steeped in confidence In football season on Friday afternoon we'd pack the auditorium to cheer on the team The players would be introduced one by one accompanied by trumpets and drums identified by position and garnished with a few statistics The QB had passed for 800 yards so far this season The running back had scored six touchdowns to date The kicker was at 90% on the field goal attempts How could we help but win? The team leaders would step up to the microphone and say something inspirational like, We're going out there and kick 'em right into the next county! And the over-riding theme for these gatherings was just one thing VICTORY In some ways it was intoxicating I went to high school in a small district in Elk County where our football team played other small districts around the area One year our team went undefeated victorious every week, at home or away, didn't matter Confidence swelled victory was ours we were invincible!

2 So the next year, provisions were made to play some higher caliber teams from Altoona and Johnstown moving into the big leagues for our area The first game of the season was vs. Bishop McCort from Johnstown It was a disaster a total defeat seven of our players got carted off the field No one was seriously injured, but school pride was dealt a terrible setback Next year, it was back to the old rivals; humbled, but wiser I want to talk today about victory in a spiritual sense today's message from the Max Luccado study is He Chose to Give Us Victory So we ask, victory over what? and how is that victory achieved? When we think of victory in the Christian sense, the first thing that comes to mind is the victory Christ accomplished over death Jesus faced the incredible pain and suffering of the cross; he died It appeared to his adversaries that Jesus had been defeated and silenced once and for all Even his disciples were enveloped in the foreboding despair of defeat The hopes and enthusiasm Christ's followers had experienced just days earlier in the week on Palm Sunday had been obliterated hope was gone; plans were made to return to fishing

3 But on Sunday morning before the sun itself had risen, Christ rose from the dead defeating death and offering the victory of eternal life to those who would believe and follow Overcoming death was, however, only one dimension of Christ's victory The Lord knows that we can feel defeated by a lot things, death included of course But there is also illness, injury, sadness, despair over circumstances of life that overwhelm us We feel like we're going under, unable to help or save ourselves, like Peter on Galilee sinking into the abyss until the hand of Christ reached out to lift him up to safety I've often talked with people who have had accidents of various sorts about how quickly those things

4 happen a mere second or two and how long it takes to overcome the injuries It can be a dark and depressing time; some days showing no progress at all But once the healing has come about and those lost abilities are restored or overcome there is a sense of accomplishment and a new empathy for others who are suffering and feeling defeated We can be an inspiration to others offering encouragement, hope and help so that they too, might overcome During those long times of recovery we need to have patience and faith trusting that we're not left to our own resources, but that there is healing power and ultimately victory in the hands of Christ In the Gospel of John, chapter 20, John arrives at the empty tomb and looks inside He finds there is no body present, only the burial cloths in which Jesus had been wrapped Burial cloths, symbols of death and defeat; yet in these, John saw victory! How can this be? Could it mean he's alive? John begins to allow himself to believe that God can turn any tragedy into triumph Any defeat into victory, any loss into gain, if we are patient and faithful in our trust You know, your life might seem like it's Good Friday, the day of the Crucifixion You might be feeling defeated, dark and hopeless as everyone close to Jesus did that day But maybe you need to turn your clock ahead just a bit to Saturday It might still seem like defeat, but it's real close, just a day away from the Resurrection And with the Resurrection comes light, renewal, hope and victory One of my favorite and most encouraging scripture verses is Romans 8:28, And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him. A key word in that verse is all - in all things, not just the good and the pleasant, but in the trials and hardships as well There are still trials and challenges in life, but even in these, in all things, God is at work to bring about something good for you in your life If God can bring glory and good out of a crucifixion and death, He can surely bring something good out of the concerns of life which you and I face I have a friend named George, a member of the last church I served before I retired George is doing ten years in a state prison for robbery and that's on top of earlier incarcerations George hasn't done well on the outside despite a lot of help and encouragement from Christian friends I keep in touch with George through letters and visit him once or twice a year He's in for the long haul, but he's not defeated He recently became certified as a counselor to other prisoners George knows the Bible; he has a real faith that he shares with others He's making a difference in a place none of us would ever want to be What appears to be defeat in the form of prison bars and walls, is really a victory in that George is making a difference in the lives of others He has also helped me as I sought to minister to a number of prisoners both in and out of jail People facing issues I can never really fully comprehend I can offer some help and encouragement, along with understanding with the insights George has provided for me George is an example of victory overcoming apparent defeat Turning again to Romans 8 we read, Can anything separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean He

5 no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?... No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us. (Romans 8:35,37) Overwhelming victory is derived from two Greek words, hyper nikao You'll recognize the word, nikao The name Nike comes from that Greek word which means victory The word, hyper intensifies the word it describes - overwhelming victory a blowout Arrogant athletes sometimes guarantee a win in a big game, but the proof is in the final score The guarantee in Romans 8 can be depended upon because God does back up the promise of victory offered here The fulfillment of that promise is seen in scripture, in the lives of others, and in your own life What prevents an athlete from achieving victory? Lack of dedication to the cause if someone in high school goes out for football, but his heart isn't in it, he probably won't become a star athlete, may not even make the team You have to be devoted, dedicated, willing to give a lot of yourself to learn, hone the skills and become your best if not, it's probably best to buy a ticket for Friday night Sometimes Christians fall short in their faith for the same reason they don't fully immerse themselves in the faith it's a now and then thing where it needs to be constant faith needs to be exercised and practiced Sloppiness is another reason for coming up short Even a highly skilled athlete can become sloppy Just figure they have the ability to accomplish things simply on their own skill set whereas they might be a whole lot better if they were more disciplined Christians get sloppy too they don't study scripture, but just assume they know it Don't seek God's guidance day to day, but figure they can handle it all themselves And athletes sometimes guilty of underestimating the challenge, like my high school football team did A sense of overconfidence we can and will prevail Talking it up and holding a pep rally might serve to inspire, but it won't bring home the trophy only dedication and hard work will do that These lessons all apply to our life of faith as well We should come here to church to be inspired, but then go out to put that energy into action So, the word for each of us this Sunday in Lent is that we can and will be victorious in meeting the challenges of life that come our way because Christ chose to give us victory

6 There are times that are not easy times when we feel lost, alone and beaten down, but we can overcome those setbacks There's a song I like a lot that we used at our midweek worship services in my former church It sums up what I'd like you to remember from today... God Will Make a Way God will make a way, when it seems there is no way. He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side With love and strength for each new day, He will make a way.