Team Sunday…
Go with the Lord. Who’s
on the Lord’s side? Genuine
Worship: encounter the living God.
Worship is an active believer’s response to the glory of the
living God. Worship is a
meeting between God and his people. Worship
provides opportunity to express their feelings toward God. It’s Interactive!
We are most always for the underdog.
Do you remember the cartoon character “Underdog?”
How about mighty Mouse or the Tick?
Underdog was a mild mannered canine who would become the fearless,
handsome dog hero named “Underdog.” God’s
champions are the underdogs in life. These are those who ordinarily would not
be considered the best or the champions.
Scripture Text:
1Sam 17:40 (NIV) Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five
smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag
and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. 41 Meanwhile,
the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer
to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and
handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, "Am I a dog, that
you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his
gods. 44 "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to
the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" 45 David said to the
Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but
I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies
of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to
me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the
carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of
the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47
All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the
LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you
into our hands." 48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David
ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and
taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead.
The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. 50 So
David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a
sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
Who is God’s Champion: The boy.
What makes a champion? God
does.
1.
Believe in God. He
knew and believed in God. Do
you know the maker of the universe? Do
you believe that He can do anything? Do
you believe that He does whatever He wants?
Remember his name is “I am.” He
is whatever! He is whatever He
chooses to be.
2.
Trust in God. He
had trusted in the God to do what he couldn’t. He stepped up to the
plate for the Lord. No one had
the courage to face the giant, Goliath. I
remember growing up that I had a hard time stepping up to the plate.
I had been hit between the eyes with a fast pitch and I could never
shake my fear. Fear will prevent
you from stepping up and seeing what God can do.
3.
Go with God. He
went in the name of the Lord. He
went out and took a chance on the Lord? Whose name do you live in?
Whose name do you wear? David
went in the name of the living God. He
stepped out to do what no one else would do.
He faced Goliath. David’s
experiences had shown him that God would show up for him if he stepped up for
God. Don’t let fear prevent you from becoming a champion.
Step up to the plate with the Lord and He will be right there for you.
Do you remember the recent movie called the angels?
God’s angels stepped up to the plate for a failing pro baseball team
and turned them into winners. When
the angels were with the players they could not be beat. When you go with God through your life you cannot be beat.
You will be a champion with the Lord.
4.
Give it to God. He
did what he could do and he depended on God for the rest.
Look beyond the physical aspects to see the spiritual.
This is the Lord’s battle and it is a spiritual warfare.
There is more to life than just what you can see.
Do you see the spiritual side of life?
Will you? The battle is
the Lord’s. Will we defy God?
God says that He loves you and wants to save you.
Will you defy Him? Will
you say no or will you say yes? Leave
the outcome of the game of life to God. Let
God have the final say and agree with his decision.
God doesn’t speak by our might but by his power.
5.
Receive the Grace of God. The
Lord gave the victory and made David his champion.
You can never go wrong if you are on the winning team.
God made David the Champion. Although
Goliath was much bigger and stronger, David was the champion because he
received God’s grace. Grace is
receiving something you don’t deserve and it is free.
The true champions receive the grace of God.
God’s grace has been given to us through Jesus.
He is the Champion. Will
you go with a winner? He is the
one who won in overtime. He arose
from the dead. Will you?
The Lord's Baseball Game
Bob and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The
Lord's team was playing Satan's team. The Lord's team was at bat; the score
was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the ninth inning with two
outs. They continued to watch as
a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was Love.
Love swung at the fist pitch and hit a single, because
Love never fails. The next batter
was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love.
The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up
and threw the
first pitch. Godly wisdom looked it over and let it pass. Ball one!
Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly Wisdom never
swings at what Satan throws. The
bases are loaded. The Lord then turns to Bob and told him He was now going to
bring in His star player.
Up to bat stepped Grace. Bob said "he sure doesn't
look like much!"
Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the
game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone,
GRACE
HIT THE BALL HARDER. But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let
very
few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit
him on the head and sent him crashing to the ground. Then it continued over
the fence for a home run! The Lord's team won.
The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love, Faith, and
Godly Wisdom could get on base, but could not win the game. Bob answered
that he did not know why.
The Lord explained, "If your love, faith and wisdom
had won the game, you would think you had done it by yourself. Love,
Faith, and Wisdom will get you on base, but only MY Grace can get you home. MY
Grace is the only thing Satan cannot steal."
To borrow a phrase from another apparently very wise
individual, "May God go before you today and bless all that you do."