We Need a Competitive Spirit Again!
Audio MP3
I.
Introduction (2 Kings 7:3)
A.
We
all can see an apathy in Christianity
1.
A
lack of passion and energy
2.
Many
people are just like these four lepers - We are just too content – just sitting
here while the world is falling apart
B.
We
Need a Competitive Spirit – we need to strive in our Christian
walk again
1.
Too
much complaining, and blaming, and quitting in Christianity
2.
Too
much “calming down” and not being stressed much in the ministry these days
3.
We
need to stretch ourselves once again – push ourselves!
4.
We
have been given a HUGE task – win our generation to Jesus Christ!
5.
God
has given us our wives, and our children
6.
He
has provided good health, and training, and some good friends in the ministry
7.
And
yet we are failing!
8.
Paul
started churches in less than a year, and was able to leave them and go on to
the next cities. In
9.
Paul
did not have a complacent attitude. He had a striving attitude –
he was driven!
10.
Folks, I don’t want to just “be” a Christian, I want to …
a.
Compete with the devil – press forward
b.
Contend for the truth
c.
Do
my utmost for His highest as Oswald Chambers wrote
d.
Fight the good fight
e.
Strain to reach beyond my limitations
f.
Struggle against the powers of darkness instead of surrendering like most people
g.
Toil
in the fields, no matter how long it takes
h.
Work
while it is day because the night cometh when no man can work!
i.
I
want to simply turn the world upside down – don’t just “nick” the world, or bump
it – I want to thoroughly upset it!
j.
Never boasting, but just winning (Philp 2:7) – not trying to make a name, or be
popular
11.
Not
like Mohamed Ali! Now I’m not talking about competing like the extreme of
Mohammed Ali where he said, “I am the greatest! I am the greatest.” No!
12.
Not
like Martha either! And I am not wanting to wear myself out like Martha in Luke
10 just so I can explode with anger and frustration!
13.
No,
I want to live a life of challenge, of reaching forth, beyond my own limits, by
the grace of God, to do the will of God!
C.
Why
Does It Matter?
1.
Because the devil is winning! Things are not the same from decade to decade –
they are only getting worse and worse
2.
Because there are MORE people than ever who need to know the only way to escape
the coming judgment of God
3.
Because Jesus saved us to succeed
D.
We
were saved to succeed!
1.
Not
talking about financially to succeed, but emotionally, and spiritually overcome!
2.
Listen to how the Bible talks about weak, frail, ignorant believers…
a.
Rom
8:37 “more than conquerors!”
b.
Rev
3:21 “Overcome” – Christians CAN overcome the obstacles in their life
3.
Listen to how the Bible challenges us…
a.
Jude
1:3 “earnestly contending” – maybe you have forgotten, but we are in a battle!
b.
Heb
10:25 “And so much the more” – it is getting harder and harder and we should be
more and more determined to stay right and do right!
c.
“Labouring more than they all” (1Cor 15:10) More than the Methodists, the JW’s,
the Mormons, Muslims, the Rugby clubs, the Political Parties, the Atheistic
societies, the evolutionists, than Hollywood!
4.
When
we were born again, we were given everything necessary to succeed and please
God. An excellent Bible! A perfect forgiveness. The infinite Holy Spirit of
God!!! And yet we don’t excel – isn’t that strange?
5.
We
expect Doctors to excel as doctors – we expect sports players to excel. We
expect our employees to excel. Why would we think GOD doesn’t expect Christians
to excel too?
E.
Some
things greatly hinder our growth and success
1.
Satan hinders us (1Thes 2:18) – but don’t blame him too much – he does deserve
too much credit!
2.
Sin
(Gen 49:3,4) – sin in our own hearts, in our churches
3.
Arrogance (Dt 33:29) – overconfidence - people forget Jesus is the only reason
behind any success
4.
Natural Abilities (1Cor 2:1) they are a curse most of the time
5.
Ignorance of Jesus (Philp 3:10) – we think we don’t need to know Him more!!! We
have got to DEPEND on Him more! The more you think you know ABOUT Jesus, the
more you see just how far you have to go in knowing Him and His power!
6.
The
question is, are you going to allow any of that to excuse your apathy? Not me!
II.
Message
A.
Two
Main Thoughts this morning:
1.
I
want to give you some AREAS of your life to strive in, and excel at – to become
very good at
2.
And
prod you into doing some Excellent HABITS That Help You Excel
B.
Areas of your life to strive in, and excel at:
1.
Your Love for the Son of God! Jesus
(John 21:11-15; Luke 1:3 “O lover of God”) – very convicting! We don’t emphasize
this enough!
a.
The
reason why we quote from the Apostle Paul the most is because he loved Jesus!
Yes Paul was used of the Holy Spirit to pen the deepest and strongest doctrines,
but it simply was because he had such a close relationship with, as he described
it, “the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal 2:20)
b.
Keep
and nurture your first love! The Ephesians neglected that part of
their Christianity
c.
Christianity ends up like the Laodiceans who were wrapped up in their
possessions and sports and Iphones and fashions and cars!
d.
Seek
not just to love Him, but to “win Christ” (Philp 3:8) – to please
Him (Rev 4:11)
e.
Excel
at loving God, and showing it (1Cor 8:3). Not lukewarm. Not worrying about
anyone else but his own walk with God
f.
Everything you do will spring from
your level of love for God
2.
Labour more than they all
(1Cor 15:10)
a.
This
is vital! Paul did not just sit and wait for souls to get saved, churches to get
started
b.
He
was NOT a Calvinist
c.
He
was passionate, and aggressive, and determined to do something great for His
Lord, and to do it, he knew he had to labour more, work harder, reach further
than others were doing:
1)
2Cor
12:11 “for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be
nothing.” – Paul kept up with the best of the apostles in his Christian efforts!
2)
2Co
11:23-30 Are they ministers of
Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant,
in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
3)
4)
We
were saved NOT BY works, but, saved TO work (Eph 2:8-10)
d.
As a
Christian, you ought to work harder on the job than everyone else – harder than
e.
Other families may be falling apart – we need to work harder for our Saviour,
and for souls
f.
Other churches may be closing, but I have decided we are going to labour more
than they all
3.
Staying Faithful –
persevering – Jesus asked His closest disciples, “Will ye also go away?” (Jn
6:66,67) The question unfortunately is STILL be asked 2,000 years later! Shame!
a.
It
is no good labouring, and then quitting!
b.
Half
plowed fields grow no crops
c.
Jesus calls all of His followers to STAY following Him, no matter what others do
(Jn 21:22)
d.
Let’s excel at staying faithful – at long-suffering if need be!
e.
We
have to get back to “finishing our course” – finishing the race
that God has set before us
f.
God
commands us preachers to “endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ!”
g.
He
expects it of all believers!
4.
Excel in Your Attitude
(Dan 5:12,14; 6:3; Pr 16:32) – it is your greatest testimony
a.
How
is your attitude when you are attacked, mocked, persecuted, rejected, ignored?
b.
Respond as Jesus did (1Peter 3:9) “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing
for railing: but contrariwise blessing” – Now THAT is excellent!
c.
I
don’t think we work on OUR attitude as much as we should!
1)
Our
joy should be FULL! Amen?
2)
We
should WALK in the Spirit, not DABBLE in it
3)
We
should be FILLED with the Holy Spirit, not the spirit of anger, depression,
wrath, frustration! Gentlemen, if you are not FILLED with the Holy Spirit, you
will quickly become filled with every unclean spirit!
4)
We
don’t have to be smiley and “happy” all the time, but children should love to be
around us, and grown men should want to “hang” around men of God, and our wives
should look up to us and lean on us for encouragement, and your church people
should see a man of God who spends time with God and gets his COUNTENANCE
changed like Moses’ was! Make sure your countenance reflects JOY!
d.
Daniel was placed in ever higher positions of authority WHY? Because he excelled
in his attitude and in his learning – and because he had an EXCELLENT SPIRIT
e.
Joseph was made prince of all
f.
Jesus was made LORD of all because of His flat-out absolute obedience to His
Father’s will!
g.
No
one succeeds by accident!
h.
Excel in having a Christ-like attitude – an excellent spirit about you!
5.
Excel in your Personal Righteousness
(Pr 12:26; Eph 6:14)
a.
We
need to get back to getting good at overcoming personal sin, temptation,
discouragement
b.
God
give us men here in
1)
Who
do NOT mess with ANY pornography!
2)
Who
don’t EVER flirt with any women – except your wife!
3)
Who
will not rob money from their offering boxes!
4)
Who
endeavour to pay their TAXES that the European governments demand!
c.
God
give us MEN who love clean thoughts and constantly cast down every imagination
against the knowledge of Christ like: Depression, and Discouragement, Anger,
Bitterness, Apathy, and anything else that is contrary to the Holy Spirit in
their lives!
d.
Talk
to your wives about every struggle in your heart! Talk to another trusted man of
God!
e.
Above all, don’t let the enemy win in your private lives!
6.
Excel in your Giving
(1Cor 8:3)
a.
Christians must get back to giving beyond THEIR means!
b.
The
greatest desire of a child of God is to give – to meet the need of others, and
especially to invest in the local church that they are in
c.
We
don’t slow down, or hold back when times get tough – Christians are givers
d.
Let’s EXCEL at our giving
7.
Lastly, Strive to Excel at Overcoming Evil with Good
(Rom 12:21)
a.
Get
very good at being a blessing to everybody
b.
Excel at SERVING people, and surprising them with a random act of kindness
c.
Overcoming, squashing, squelching, crushing the works of the devil in
people’slives
d.
Not
by my own power or fierce anger or schemes, but by doing GOOD!
1)
Mow
somebody’s grass
2)
Sit
and listen to someone for an hour
3)
Come
along side and carry someone’s burden for a while
4)
Bless someone that hurt you
e.
Oh
that we excelled at doing good (Philp 2:14,15)!
f.
Have
you made any difference in the dark world around you?
C.
Some Excellent Habits That Help You
Excel
1.
Pray for a whole day
– all day long with a prayer list and journal – walking, praying out loud, non
stop throughout a day, for everyone you can think of!
2.
Fast for a whole week
– about just a few things. Don’t you yearn for God to give you some sign that he
is STILL a great God, and still answers prayer?
3.
Attempt Something Marvellous
– Attempt Something Impossible (John 14:12)
a.
Win
an impossible soul – go after the mayor of your town, witness to a drunk, humble
yourself to that mocker and set out to win that rascal to Christ!
b.
Read
your Bible until you get some awesome truth that was written just for you (Mt
16:17)! I love reading and hearing other men preach, but I love it more when GOD
teaches me something!
c.
Get
some trophies to brag about: like victories over sin, over satan’s attacks,
against major obstacles, have big accomplishments in our church, restored
marriages, returned wayward sons!
4.
Read more of your Bible!
a.
Strive for 10 chapters a day
b.
Study more and challenge yourself to learn even more Bible!
c.
The
more you abide in Christ’s word, the more He will be able to abide in you!!!
5.
Leave some things behind!
To the point where they mean NOTHING to you anymore
a.
Like, Your past
b.
Your
plans and ideas – let them die, and ask God for HIS plans for you
c.
Your
backup plans
d.
Your
friends
e.
Your
failures – a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again!
6.
Live more for Jesus than you used
to live for the devil.
That is something you must choose to do daily!
7.
Do hard things
quit being such a baby and only doing the least expected!
a.
Stay
married – till DEATH!
b.
Get
up in front of a Sunday School class and teach some children the wonderful love
of Jesus
c.
Get
behind this pulpit gentlemen and preach righteousness and holiness
d.
Get
up earlier than you are used to and force yourself to read, and study, and
listen to God
e.
Sign-up for Bible Institute
f.
Pray
about absolutely everything!
8.
Become all things to all men that
by all means you may win some!
Are you willing to almost anything to accomplish God’s will?
III.
Conclusion – Application
A.
Biblical Christianity is failing.
1.
Not
because our methods are powerless, but WE are just basically sitting here and
doing very little
2.
We
have the tools, and the power of the Holy Spirit, and the will of God to turn
our world upside down!
3.
But
we are just too content – just sitting here while the world is falling apart
4.
And
our children, and families are showing the results of our apathy!
B.
We
were saved to succeed!
1.
Not
talking about financially to succeed, but emotionally, and spiritually overcome!
2.
But
not by accident, or just “automatically”
3.
It
is by hard work! Labouring more than they all (1Cor 15:10)
C.
I
listed some things greatly hinder our growth and success.
1.
But
we cannot keep blaming those things
2.
Are
you going to let those things constantly hold you back from great things? Sins?
Satan’s attacks? Overconfidence and pride?
D.
We
Need a Competitive Spirit – we need to strive in our Christian walk again
1.
We
need to stretch ourselves once again – push ourselves!
2.
Gentlemen, I don’t want to attempt to serve God, I want to …
a.
Compete with the devil
b.
Contend for the truth
c.
Do
my utmost for His highest
d.
Fight the good fight
e.
Labour for souls
f.
Strain to reach beyond my limit
g.
Work
while it is day
h.
Struggle against the powers of darkness
i.
I
want to simply turn the world upside down – don’t just “nick” the world – I want
to thoroughly upset it!
j.
Never boasting, but just winning
k.
I
want to live a life of challenge, of reaching forth, beyond my own limits, by
the grace of God, to do the will of God!
3.
Will
you decide to strive to be like your Master who always “went a little further”,
who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross?
E.
There are no failures in Christianity, only quitters
F.
What
to do right now…
1.
Repent of apathy, lukewarmness – repent of how you feel right now
2.
Beg
God for a passion To excel
a.
To
be a BRIGHT light
b.
To
be a loud voice amongst the noise of the world around you
c.
To
love God and especially His Son
3.
Start today at …
a.
Labouring more than they all
– more than every other Christian in this room
b.
Staying Faithful –
persevering
c.
Excel at Having a Good Attitude
d.
Excel in your Personal Righteousness
e.
Excel in your Giving
f.
Lastly, Strive to Excel at Overcoming Evil with Good