1 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:11,800 You have your Bible going to make your. 2 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:17,440 Way to 1st John chapter 5. First John chapter 5 verses one 3 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:19,960 through 5. First John 5 verses one through 4 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:22,480 5. My voice is not what it normally 5 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:24,080 is and so if I have to stay at a gear. 6 00:00:24,080 --> 00:00:26,040 Or two lower, which I promise I'm probably going to get 7 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:27,440 excited and get out of that, but. 8 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:30,760 I hope I'm over the. Medicine I took last night. 9 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:34,240 After I made my toast and put the peanut butter back, then I 10 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:36,920 realized I'd put the cheese by the peanut butter instead of the 11 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:38,880 refrigerator and I thought. Oh, I hope that's the only thing 12 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:39,720 that goes wrong. Today. 13 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,840 So anyway, hopefully I can stay focused and keep my mind. 14 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:46,400 Where it needs to be? But first John chapter 5, verses 15 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:48,400 1. Through 5 y'all you've probably. 16 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,120 Heard of the legendary football? Coach by the name of. 17 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:55,400 Vince Lombardi, best known for leading the Green Bay Packers to 18 00:00:55,400 --> 00:01:00,320 I believe 5 NFL championships and a couple Super Bowls by the 19 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:04,120 time they were called Super Bowls in the 1960s, this man had 20 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:06,920 a lot to say about winning. Some say that what he said could 21 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:12,360 be attributed to an earlier coach by the name of Red Sanders 22 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:16,720 of the UCLA Bruins. But whoever said it listen to to 23 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:22,320 what these famous words on winning were winning then said. 24 00:01:22,320 --> 00:01:26,040 It's not a sometimes thing, it's a all the time thing. 25 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:29,480 Winning is a habit. You also would go on to say 26 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:33,040 winning isn't everything. It's the only thing. 27 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:37,520 If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score? 28 00:01:39,960 --> 00:01:42,640 Well, regardless of whether he said it or originally or 29 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,160 somebody else said it originally, there's no disputing 30 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:49,960 the fact based on these words and many others, that captures 31 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:54,000 the reality that human beings are obsessed with winning. 32 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:58,920 And it's not just NFL coaches. It's mom's on the T-ball field 33 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:02,960 where there's no scoreboard but they're keeping it on their 34 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,880 phone. Mom's on the soccer field, it's 35 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:07,400 dad's. When I was coaching Thursday 36 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:09,560 night flag football with eight-year olds and I was 37 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,960 deciding how much more I was going to rib these refs for the 38 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:14,680 either bad 'cause or rule changing. 39 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:15,680 They were doing on me. Right. 40 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,200 And I thought, man, you got to calm. 41 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:19,400 Down these are 8. Year olds, right? 42 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:23,120 So we want to win every year. I mean, you can look in sports 43 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:25,240 in every direction. I've I've even read where every 44 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:30,720 year professional cyclist are caught with hidden tiny electric 45 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:35,480 motors on the inside of their bikes to secretly give them a 46 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,160 physical boost as they compete as a cycle. 47 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:43,040 I mean, people are obsessed. We as Homo sapiens are obsessed 48 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:47,200 with with winning. I'm not necessarily saying 49 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:49,680 that's a bad thing. The question is, is that 50 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:53,040 philosophy sound though? Is winning everything? 51 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,440 Well, you might be tempted to say no. 52 00:02:56,440 --> 00:03:00,000 I actually want to propose to you this morning that that is 53 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:01,240 true. Winning is everything. 54 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:07,000 There's only one catch. There's only one real win that 55 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,240 matters. There's only one real win. 56 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:14,520 Winning is everything, but there's only one real win that 57 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:16,640 matters. In fact, the Bible says you can 58 00:03:16,640 --> 00:03:20,640 win the world and yet forfeit or lose your soul. 59 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:24,920 You can win at everything else there is to win at except this 60 00:03:24,920 --> 00:03:27,680 one thing and be a loser. Ultimately. 61 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:32,760 Winning is everything, mark it down, but there's only one win 62 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,000 that ultimately matters. What I want to show you from 63 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:36,720 first John 5 is simply that truth. 64 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:37,880 This. Morning is that winning is. 65 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:39,240 Everything in title of the sermon. 66 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:43,360 Is born to win. Born to win, The question is and 67 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,160 John's been asking what? How do you know? 68 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:46,360 Questions. And answering them. 69 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,480 Over and over, the question this morning he's writing to answer 70 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:53,200 is how do you know how to win? At the win that ultimately 71 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:54,360 matters. How do you know? 72 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:56,800 How to win? Listen to 1st John. 5 verses, 73 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:00,800 one through 5. John writes Everyone who 74 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:07,720 believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and 75 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:12,000 everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of 76 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,520 him. By this we know that we love the 77 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:19,920 children of God when we love God and keep his commandments. 78 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,440 For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments, and 79 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:26,560 his commandments are not burdensome. 80 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:31,600 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world, and 81 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,760 this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith. 82 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,080 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who 83 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:42,520 believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 84 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,040 If winning is everything, the first question we need to ask 85 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:49,280 and answer is who wins? Who wins? 86 00:04:49,280 --> 00:04:50,760 Here's John's answer. You ready? 87 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:57,760 Who wins #1 believers who are born of God, love God and love 88 00:04:57,760 --> 00:04:59,440 one another. Who wins? 89 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:04,400 Let me tell you who wins. Believers who are born of God 90 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,240 love God and love one another. Notice what he says in verse 91 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:10,880 one. Everyone who believes that Jesus 92 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,000 is the Christ has been born of God. 93 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:18,600 It really doesn't get much simpler than that, right? 94 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:23,680 Everyone who truly believes Jesus is Lord has been saved. 95 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:28,040 John says all right, winning really is spiritually that 96 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:31,560 simple, but is it that easy? Well, let's see, because we need 97 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:33,520 to really understand what John is saying. 98 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:38,080 First of all, when John says everyone who believes, he has 99 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:42,600 more in mind and than just mental or intellectual ascent, 100 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:47,320 right, He's not meaning simply agreeing that something is true. 101 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:51,240 John means not only recognizing the truth of something, but more 102 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:55,400 importantly, accepting that truth by appropriately 103 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,520 responding to it. And there's a difference. 104 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:03,880 You might believe that your car runs only on gasoline, but you 105 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:07,360 don't appropriately respond to that truth until you pull up to 106 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:11,680 the pump and pay the money and squeeze the handle and fill your 107 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,280 car with gasoline. You might believe that the sun 108 00:06:14,280 --> 00:06:16,920 can burn your skin. You might agree that that's 109 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,400 true, but you've not appropriately responded to that 110 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:23,720 truth until you apply sunscreen. You might believe that seatbelts 111 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,040 save lives, but you've not appropriately responded to that 112 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,920 truth unless you what? Buckle up. 113 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:33,600 There's a difference between believing or agreeing something 114 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,720 is true and actually appropriately responding to it. 115 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,200 All right? True belief, mark it down 116 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,720 always. True belief always effects one's 117 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:46,160 behavior. John is not saying everyone who 118 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:50,360 agrees that Jesus is the Christ has been saved. 119 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,720 What he's saying is everyone who's believed and appropriately 120 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:58,120 responded to that belief with repentance of sin turning to the 121 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,640 Lord Jesus as Savior and surrendering their life to him. 122 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:03,280 That's the person that's been saved. 123 00:07:03,280 --> 00:07:04,760 Can I ask you, have you been saved? 124 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:07,000 I'm not asking you, do you believe in Jesus or do you 125 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,440 believe Jesus is the Savior? I'm asking you, have you pulled 126 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,040 up to the pump and pumped gas? I'm asking you, have you applied 127 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,480 sunscreen? I'm asking you if you've buckled 128 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:19,440 up, if you've surrendered your life to Jesus because he lived a 129 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:22,520 sinless life for you, died on the cross for your sin, and was 130 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:24,760 raised from the dead. Thirdly, to offer you eternal 131 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:25,960 life. And there came a point of 132 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:29,160 decision in your life by faith when everything changed because 133 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:34,440 you decided to follow Jesus, Amen or not Amen in your life. 134 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:37,080 Has it happened? Has it happened? 135 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:39,600 That's what John says. Everyone who believes that Jesus 136 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,320 is the Christ has been born of God. 137 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,160 It says born of God. What does that mean? 138 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:49,200 This is the terminology Jesus uses in the conversation with 139 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:51,200 Nicodemus in John chapter 3, right? 140 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:54,800 And Nicodemus is a spiritual leader and yet he's asking Jesus 141 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:58,320 basic spiritual questions. Jesus looks at him and says, hey 142 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:00,720 man, listen, you don't understand, you got to be born 143 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:02,120 again. Nicodemus didn't have a clue 144 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:04,600 what Jesus is talking about. But Jesus is not talking about a 145 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:08,440 new physical birth, all right. He's talking about a spiritual 146 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:12,800 birth where God, by his power, based upon the fate of someone 147 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:17,640 in him, in his son, Jesus acts dynamically and transformatively 148 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:21,320 on an individual where he causes their soul to be birthed from 149 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:25,320 death and made alive and become a new creation. 2nd Corinthians 150 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:29,720 517 if any any woman, boy or girl be in Christ, have faith in 151 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:31,760 Jesus. Not just intellectual ascent, 152 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:35,760 but sunscreen on, buckled up, seat belt on, faith in Jesus. 153 00:08:35,919 --> 00:08:39,840 That person is made alive by the power of God. 154 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:41,440 They are literally birthed into life. 155 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,760 The Bible calls it regeneration. The Jesus calls it new birth. 156 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:48,840 Have you been made alive? Everyone who's been born of God 157 00:08:49,560 --> 00:08:52,000 is those who've accepted this truth, right? 158 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:57,040 Everyone into verse one, John writes who loves the Father, 159 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:00,000 loves whoever has been born of him. 160 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:04,120 Now, if you're paying attention, John just switched terminology 161 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:05,400 on you and that should catch your attention. 162 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,480 He says here, whoever loves the father, you would have expected 163 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:14,560 him to say whoever's been born of God then loves whoever's been 164 00:09:14,560 --> 00:09:16,640 born of him. But he says whoever loves the 165 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:17,480 father. Why? 166 00:09:17,560 --> 00:09:19,960 Because John knows that if you've been born of God, guess 167 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:21,200 what you're going to naturally do? 168 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:23,800 You're going to love God. Did you know that I did not have 169 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:27,640 to teach my children to love me? You don't have to teach your 170 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:32,120 children to love you. It's kind of coming to an end 171 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:35,080 now, sadly. My oldest is 13. 172 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:37,240 Not my love, their love for me. I didn't mean that. 173 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:45,000 That came out bad. What I meant was again, that's. 174 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:50,120 Cheese peanut butter thing, but. What I meant was one of the 175 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:54,040 primary demonstrations of their love my girls when I pull into 176 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:56,560 my. Driveway No one. 177 00:09:56,560 --> 00:09:58,280 Taught them to come. Running down the driveway 178 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:04,160 driveway screaming daddy when I come home from work right now. 179 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:06,120 That's what I meant. Starting to come to an end all 180 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:09,400 right there. My oldest is 13 and kind of 181 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:12,480 caring about other things. Right, but when you've been. 182 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:17,240 Born of God, no one has to teach you to run down the driveway 183 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:22,040 saying, I love my heavenly father, right? 184 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:24,160 John says. Whoever loves the. 185 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:25,880 Father, that's who's truly. Has been born of him. 186 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:29,200 That's one of the clear signs. You're spiritually alive, right? 187 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:31,520 That doesn't have to be taught. Doesn't mean, doesn't mean my 188 00:10:31,560 --> 00:10:33,400 the love of my. Kids for me is perfect. 189 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:35,920 Doesn't mean my love for my Heavenly Father or your love is 190 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:37,240 perfect. It just means it's. 191 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:40,040 Present. It's real. 192 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:40,880 It's. Undeniable. 193 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:43,560 It doesn't have to be taught. It's coming natural, right? 194 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:48,160 Is there an instinctive love not only for God, but John says 195 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,360 here, those if we love the Father, that we're going to love 196 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:54,120 those who have been born of Him. So not only did I not have to 197 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:58,160 teach my kids to love me, I didn't have to teach my kids. 198 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:00,320 To love one another. Now you may be saying, Kyle, 199 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:02,720 listen and listen. Mine are right there too. 200 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,400 They can fight, kick and scream. And gnaw and agitate and. 201 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:07,120 Pull each other's teeth out just about right. 202 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:08,360 I mean, your kids may do that too. 203 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:09,080 Mine do. Too. 204 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,680 But you know deep down there's a love they have when we lost my. 205 00:11:13,680 --> 00:11:15,320 Son in Bass Pro my daughters were. 206 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:18,400 Crying just as much as. I was, we found him by the way. 207 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:20,120 But anyway, that's a different story. 208 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:23,520 But. Deep down, you don't have to 209 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:28,720 train or teach to love those born of the same family to which 210 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:32,640 you belong. Do you see that borne out in 211 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:34,880 your life for brothers and sisters? 212 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:39,760 Is there an instinctive natural native love for those in your 213 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,160 church family part of the. Family I've got. 214 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:43,840 Other brothers and sisters in Christ. 215 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:46,640 Y'all winning is everything but only one win matters. 216 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:49,080 So who is it that wins? It's those that have been born 217 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:53,880 of God and love God and love. One another, that's who wins. 218 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:57,800 OK, that's the only win that matters #2 though winning is 219 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:01,680 everything and #2 how do we know we are winning? 220 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,240 How do we know we're winning? We're winning when our love for 221 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:07,360 God looks like obedience to God's commands. 222 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:10,440 How do we know that we're winning? 223 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:15,120 We know we're winning when our love for God looks like 224 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:18,160 obedience to God's command. This is verses 2 through 3, John 225 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:20,720 writes. By this we know that we love the 226 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,800 children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. 227 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,640 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. 228 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:32,320 Some people think it's possible to love God and not obey him. 229 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:37,440 Baloney, John says, and he stamps out that possibility. 230 00:12:37,560 --> 00:12:41,360 There's no love for God without obedience because love for God, 231 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:44,160 John says, looks like obedience. All right. 232 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,920 Loving God and obeying God are not 2 separate things. 233 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:48,480 They are in fact one in the same. 234 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:51,440 John says one of the clearest signs we've been born of God is 235 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,280 if in fact we love God and love for God looks like obedience. 236 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:56,000 All right, again, back to my kids. 237 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:59,920 Nothing my kids do. I mean, I actually, when I 238 00:12:59,920 --> 00:13:01,680 thought about this, I thought I could probably think of a lot of 239 00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:03,720 things. But one of the primary things, 240 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:07,160 if not the greatest thing that my kids do that just show their 241 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:10,840 raw, instinctive love for me is when they do what I would want 242 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:15,040 them to do without me telling them what to do right. 243 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:17,400 When they respect me enough and they honor me enough, when they 244 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:20,760 love me And it shows up by just they're doing what they know 245 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:22,880 would please. And and by the way, kids, 246 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:24,880 despite our sin nature and we are little sinners. 247 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:26,240 And I've said that and you know it's true. 248 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,920 And I am too. But deep down too, you know, God 249 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:31,240 has given us a desire to please those we love. 250 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:34,920 And and and and deep down my kids and your kids they they do 251 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:37,880 even though sometimes I can get interrupted and obstacled by sin 252 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:40,480 and hardness of heart. But deep down there is there a 253 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:43,600 desire to please, especially when they're young in responding 254 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:46,640 to authority in their lives. They desire to please. 255 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:52,400 Is there in your life evidence of that desire to please God 256 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,280 just like your kids have that data to show their love by 257 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:58,680 pleasing the same operation for us in our lives. 258 00:13:58,680 --> 00:14:00,520 So there's born of God. They're all to be that 259 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:01,840 instinctive desire to please God. 260 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:04,080 No, it doesn't mean our obedience to God is perfect. 261 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,240 It doesn't mean my kids. Obedience to me is perfect. 262 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,320 But is it present? Let me ask you this. 263 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:12,800 If you just did a. Little evaluation. 264 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:16,200 Is your love for God looking like obedience? 265 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:17,960 To his commands right now in your life. 266 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:21,400 Let me ask you some. Diagnostic questions Are you 267 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:22,640 ready? Let's just go back to the. 268 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:25,960 Basic set of 10 God's given us. Not all of them, but a few of 269 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:29,000 them right there. Thou shalt have no other gods 270 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:31,560 before. Me. 271 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:34,160 Right, God says, hey, I'm supposed to be first. 272 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:41,680 So let me ask you, is God getting your greatest loyalty 273 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,960 of? Above and beyond anything or 274 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:49,160 anyone else in your life. Is God getting your greatest 275 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:52,120 loyalty in every area and sphere of your life? 276 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:54,480 Or is something or someone getting? 277 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:59,440 A greater loyalty, a greater priority, a higher place, by the 278 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:01,280 way, sometimes. That person getting a higher 279 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:05,440 place than God in our lives is me, myself and and I. 280 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:11,640 Yeah, what about? You shall honor your father and 281 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:13,240 your mother. I'm talking to the young people 282 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:15,440 in the room. I see some of you. 283 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:22,240 Let me give you 2 words, teenagers, attitude and actions. 284 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:26,200 Number one, to honor means to respect. 285 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:28,560 And the primary way you're going to respect. 286 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:31,760 Your parents is in the way you speak to them and the way your 287 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:33,840 body. Language responds to them when 288 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:38,120 they're talking to you and your. Attention you give to them and 289 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:41,160 the way you're reflecting that attitude of a good attitude or 290 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:44,640 bad attitude to your parents. So attitude and then your 291 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:48,200 actions, your actual behaviors, so do you actually do what 292 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:49,760 they've asked you to do are? You honoring? 293 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:51,640 Their wishes. Are you obeying their commands? 294 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:55,040 Are you following through on their intentions right now? 295 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,360 Listen, teenagers, I know you may feel a little old for this, 296 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,680 but if you don't learn this, if your parents didn't tell you 297 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:03,040 this, all right, God wants you to hear this, I believe. 298 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,760 And parents, if you're still raising young ones, you need to 299 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:08,680 use this language I believe will be helpful because guess what, 300 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:10,840 You may feel like, well, I don't necessarily feel like they have 301 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:12,800 to do that to me. Well, listen, God wants them to 302 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:15,120 do it for him. He's given you for them to 303 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:17,160 practice on, all right? So what we're going to do is 304 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:21,280 teach our kids to obey right away, all the way with a happy 305 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:24,240 heart. Teenagers, you need to write 306 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:27,280 that down, all right? Because it's applicable right 307 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:28,840 now. And this is the way God wants 308 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,720 you to relate to him all the way right away with the attitude of. 309 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:39,440 A Come on now. Happy heart, all right. 310 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:43,040 That's when honoring one's parents looks like. 311 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:45,040 You know why God wants you to honor your parents? 312 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:46,640 Because they're the first authority figure in life. 313 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:49,160 Because God's prepping you to respond to him as the ultimate 314 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:50,520 authority. By the way, I'm getting off 315 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:51,800 track here, but parents, listen to me. 316 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:55,320 I realize right now sometimes I hear this thing. 317 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:57,200 Well, he's just two. She's just three. 318 00:16:57,200 --> 00:16:58,600 She's just four. She doesn't know any better. 319 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:02,960 Listen, I'm just going to tell you you're wrong. 320 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:05,280 You can try to correct me later. I'm just telling you you're 321 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:08,800 wrong. They know better, and let me 322 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:11,079 tell you if you. Don't establish authority and 323 00:17:11,079 --> 00:17:13,040 response to. Obedience when they can do 324 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:16,440 things you know they should understand by three age 3 and 4. 325 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:20,400 You've waited too late. You've waited too late. 326 00:17:20,599 --> 00:17:23,960 And again, you may disagree with me and that's fine, but I'm 327 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:26,079 telling you from a. Place of that's well studied. 328 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,640 And I've seen that, I've told you when my mom took me in the 329 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:34,400 bathroom before I was when I was about two years of age and went 330 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:39,360 7 rounds with me to my behind. You think I'm kidding y'all? 331 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:41,520 Don't remember this. Y'all laughing like y'all don't 332 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:44,400 know this. 7 rounds because she had instructed me to tell a 333 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:45,840 young girl I'd pushed. I was sorry. 334 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:50,280 Either it was 2 or. 3. The seventh time, the 7th time I 335 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:53,360 finally said I'm sorry and she said after that she didn't have 336 00:17:53,360 --> 00:17:59,640 a problem with me. But if you don't start, if you 337 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:01,640 don't start early. You'll start too late. 338 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:03,360 All right, all right, back to sermon. 339 00:18:03,360 --> 00:18:07,560 Here we go. You shall not murder, Jesus 340 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:09,560 says. If you hate in your heart, 341 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:10,640 you're guilty. Of what? 342 00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:13,960 Of murder? And remember, John defines hate, 343 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:15,960 not of digging a hole and throwing you in it. 344 00:18:16,120 --> 00:18:18,840 But of just anything that's. Less than a lack of true what 345 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:23,240 love? Anything that's less than acting 346 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:25,600 for the good of another at your own expense. 347 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:27,240 Even your enemies. All right. 348 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,320 What about you shall not commit adultery, right? 349 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:34,760 So the Bible talks about adultery as sexual activity 350 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:37,680 outside the bounds of marriage. When you're married, that's 351 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:40,400 outside of God's will. By the way, God says if you lust 352 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,480 in your heart, you've committed what adultery. 353 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:45,560 It's not just a physical action thing. 354 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:48,200 It's a from the heart thing. And by the way, the Bible uses 355 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:51,800 another word fornication for sexual activity outside of 356 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:54,400 marriage for those that are not married as forbidden by God 357 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:58,320 because God designed sexual activity between a man and a 358 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:02,840 woman in the in the bonds in context of marriage. 359 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:07,480 Teenagers, please hear me. You will bless yourself if you 360 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:13,840 save yourself for marriage. You shall not steal, including 361 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:17,920 your taxes and your tithe. I didn't think I'd get an Amen 362 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:24,080 there, but I tried all right. You shall not covet, live 363 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:26,000 desperately, wanting what everybody else has. 364 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:27,200 You shall not bear false witness. 365 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,520 Are you speaking the truth and nothing but the truth and only 366 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:33,160 the truth? No matter who and where you're 367 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:34,760 what you're with? Loving God. 368 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:38,240 Y'all looks like obeying God. You realize you can really take 369 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:41,400 a pretty accurate measure of your love for God by just doing 370 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:43,320 a little. Analysis of your obedience, 371 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:46,840 right? Because obedience to God. 372 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:49,880 Is a measure of your love. It's a how? 373 00:19:50,120 --> 00:19:51,760 It's a how it's put into practice, right? 374 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:55,040 Winning is everything. How do we know we're winning? 375 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:56,520 How do we know we're? Winning. 376 00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:58,320 We're winning. When our love for God. 377 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:00,760 When our love for God. Looks like obedience to God's 378 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:03,760 commands. Let me just pause for a second. 379 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:06,280 Some of you are winners in the room. 380 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:08,680 You're just not living by winning right now. 381 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:13,400 Let me explain. Alabama won yesterday. 382 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:15,760 Praise God. But there was a point. 383 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:17,600 In time when they weren't winning but they were the 384 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:22,040 winners of the game. OK, I'm doing this. 385 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:24,160 On a South Carolina game and not a different game, All right. 386 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:28,440 So anyway, you can be a Christian and be a winner, but 387 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:33,320 not live like you're winning you. 388 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:35,200 Can have come to Christ and accepted. 389 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:39,960 Him and have have have received. Eternal life, but have gotten 390 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:42,600 the score flipped upside. Down and the world's kind of got 391 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:44,280 you where it wants you. And it looks like you may not 392 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:45,960 win in the end, but you're you're a winner. 393 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:48,080 You're just not living like you're winning. 394 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:51,080 Your love for God is not looking like. 395 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:52,960 Obedience to God's commands. And you, you got some 396 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,520 adjustments to make in a time out at a halftime. 397 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:02,120 God, would you look and inspect me and see God, you've made me a 398 00:21:02,120 --> 00:21:03,440 winner, but I'm not living like it. 399 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:08,680 So what do I need to change? What needs to happen for for me 400 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:10,920 to actually live like I who I am? 401 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:13,600 All right #3 what does it take to win? 402 00:21:14,360 --> 00:21:16,400 Faith is the win. What does it take to win? 403 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:17,960 Faith is the win. This is verse 3 through 5. 404 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:21,240 And his commands are not burdensome, John says. 405 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:24,280 Now don't be mistaken, John does not mean to say that God's 406 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:27,840 commands are easy or automatic. They're anything but that. 407 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:31,400 God's commands are in fact demanding. 408 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:35,160 It's not easy to follow Jesus today or live a life fully sold 409 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:36,600 out for him in the world we live in. 410 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:38,640 It's going to take every ounce of spiritual courage and 411 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:41,800 vitality and ability that God, by the power of the Holy Spirit 412 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:45,360 can give you and has given us. And yet by this John is saying 413 00:21:45,360 --> 00:21:48,560 God's commands are not oppressive, not God's commands 414 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:51,200 are not a burden. God's commands, y'all are not 415 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,480 life taking. They are life giving. 416 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:58,440 The truth will set you free. God has given us his truth and 417 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,040 his commands. So how can God's commands be 418 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,440 both demanding on the one hand and yet not burdensome on the 419 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:06,280 other? One verse 4 tells us, it says 420 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:09,320 for everyone who has been born of God, there's that terminology 421 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:13,640 again, overcomes the world and this is the victory that has 422 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:16,280 overcome the world. There it is our faith. 423 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:19,520 John says, why are God's commands not burdensome? 424 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:24,760 Because of the new birth. If you've truly been born again, 425 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:30,320 you've been given a new set of desires, and if you've been born 426 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:34,600 again, you've been given a totally new power, the person of 427 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:37,960 the Holy Spirit within you. So by a new creation, because of 428 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:41,760 a new birth, you got new desires and a new power to do what you 429 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:44,840 never wanted to do, no, never could do on your own before. 430 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:46,560 And this is how God's commands are. 431 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:49,160 You try to do God's commands without being born again, you're 432 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:50,920 going to frustrate yourself into oblivion. 433 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:53,800 You can't do it. You can't behaviorally modify 434 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:58,760 yourself into being a Christian. A Christian is a new creation 435 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:04,440 born of God by faith in Jesus. And when faith in Jesus happens 436 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:06,680 and the new birth happens, you're a new creation. 437 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:09,680 And now you're released to do commands you now know how to do 438 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:11,400 because you have understanding in God's Word. 439 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:13,480 And you have the power to do that because you have the person 440 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:14,920 of the Holy Spirit living on the inside. 441 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:17,720 So you can do that which you couldn't do before. 442 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:19,640 You would want what you never wanted before. 443 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:25,040 All right so to be born again is to be saved, brought to life by 444 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:27,440 God's power. When someone's born again, they 445 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:30,680 literally, John says, overcome the world. 446 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:33,440 They have overcome the world. They are overcoming the world 447 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:34,920 and they will overcome the world. 448 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:37,920 And although this is not an easy thing, right, This is the power 449 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:41,480 of God in our life, the world. Y'all are all the forces and the 450 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:45,000 powers of the evil pitted against God and his people. 451 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:47,560 And to overcome is to conquer. It's to win. 452 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:51,200 It's to defeat everything that is opposed to God. 453 00:23:51,360 --> 00:23:56,120 Y'all know a multibillion dollar enterprise that is named for 454 00:23:56,120 --> 00:23:59,400 this Greek word here that means overcome? 455 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:02,200 Can you name it? Somebody said it. 456 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:05,280 Who? Said Nike in the back. 457 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:11,320 Mitch Nike is named, now we pronounce it in English, Nike. 458 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:15,600 But actually the word comes from the Greek goddess, her name for 459 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:20,640 victory, which was Nikkei. But this is the word to 460 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:24,720 overcome, to have victory. And now even a shoe company and 461 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:27,960 all sorts of sports accessories is named after this very word. 462 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:29,760 But how is the victory won, right? 463 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:33,640 How is it that those born of God overcome the attacks and the 464 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:36,720 temptations and the traps in the draw and the gravitational 465 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:39,320 downward pull of the world towards rabbating? 466 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,040 It's God, it says. This is the victory that 467 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:42,520 overcomes the world. Our faith. 468 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:46,600 Not your works, not your best efforts, not your best wishes or 469 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:53,400 desires, not your hardest tries. But our faith, our fate. 470 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:55,320 Why is it? What does it take? 471 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:57,360 To win, it takes faith. Faith is the victory. 472 00:24:57,360 --> 00:24:59,800 I want you to listen to what God's word says about faith. 473 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:01,040 I don't have time to read this whole chapter. 474 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:02,320 I'm going to try to. Hit some highlights. 475 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:03,600 Y'all ready? Listen to faith. 476 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:06,840 Now faith is this is Hebrews 11, the assurance of things hoped 477 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:08,120 for. It's the conviction of things 478 00:25:08,120 --> 00:25:12,160 not seen for by it the people of old received their commendation. 479 00:25:12,360 --> 00:25:15,200 Look at verse 4. By faith Abel offered to God a 480 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:17,680 more acceptable sacrifice than came. 481 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:21,520 And then if you drop down to verse 5, by faith, Enoch was 482 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:24,040 taken up so that he should not see death. 483 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:27,600 Verse 7 By faith Noah being warned by God concerning events, 484 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:30,800 yet is unseen and reverent fear constructed an art for the 485 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:34,000 saving of his household. Look at further. 486 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:37,200 Verse 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to 487 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:40,760 a place that he was to receive as an inheritance by faith. 488 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:43,160 Verse 9, He went to live in the land of promise in a foreign 489 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:45,200 land. Verse 11, By faith. 490 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:47,320 Sarah herself received power to conceive. 491 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:51,480 Verse 12. Therefore from one man as him as 492 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:53,280 good as dead were born descendants, as many as the 493 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:56,080 stars of heaven, and as many as the innumerable grains of sand 494 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:58,440 by the seashore. Look at verse. 495 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:01,000 Drop on down to verse 17 By faith. 496 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:03,320 Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. 497 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:07,960 Look at verse 21 by faith. Jacob when dying, blessed each 498 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:10,320 of the sons of Joseph, verse 22 by faith. 499 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:11,440 Joseph at the end. Of his life. 500 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:14,040 Made mention of the Exodus Look at verse 23 By faith. 501 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:16,600 Moses when he was born was hidden for three months look at 502 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:19,120 verse 29 by faith. The people cross the Red Sea 503 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:21,000 look at verse 32. What more shall I say? 504 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:24,000 For time shall fail me to tell of Gideon and Barack and Samson, 505 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:26,840 Egypt, them David, Sam and the prophets through faith. 506 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:32,040 Y'all notice a theme? Do you know why the? 507 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:36,880 Victory is simply our faith. Because Jesus. 508 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:42,080 Won the victory, and our victory comes by faith in His. 509 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:48,080 Victory because our faith in him joins us with Jesus, the 510 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:51,320 overcomer, the one who said, hey, in the world you're going 511 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:52,400 to have trouble. But take heart. 512 00:26:52,400 --> 00:27:00,040 I've what I've Niked, I've overcome the world, those by 513 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:02,880 faith in Jesus, overcome by faith because not that we're 514 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:05,520 trying to win, we're joining the wind that Jesus has already 515 00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:09,200 secured for us on the cross by when we win. 516 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:11,920 By faith in Jesus as we win. But don't miss verse 5. 517 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:15,840 What does it say here? Who is it that overcomes the 518 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:18,360 world except the one who believes that Jesus is the? 519 00:27:18,360 --> 00:27:21,080 Son of God, in case you were wondering. 520 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:23,040 That's a rhetorical question, I kind of believe. 521 00:27:23,040 --> 00:27:25,360 That's like Bible trash. Talk right there, holy and. 522 00:27:25,360 --> 00:27:29,440 Sanctified Hey y'all show me somebody overcome the world by 523 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:32,240 something different than faith. You can't do it. 524 00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:36,080 The Bible. Says that's preacher trash talk. 525 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:39,880 That's the best I can do. Right there, it doesn't happen. 526 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:42,040 There's no one. There's no winner. 527 00:27:42,120 --> 00:27:43,360 You're not going to find a winner. 528 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:44,800 Don't even try to go look for one, can you? 529 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:45,760 You can look for one if you want. 530 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:50,040 There's no ultimate winner in this world who's won at really 531 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:51,800 what matters and when he gives everything. 532 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:53,200 But there's only one win that matters. 533 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:56,040 Go find me a winner. Someone that's not done it by 534 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:59,080 faith. I want to show you a little 535 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:01,720 video clip of Scotty Scheffler. I've showed this to the men on 536 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:04,360 Tuesday morning, but I want you to see this video clip after he 537 00:28:04,360 --> 00:28:07,720 won his second Masters in 2024. I just want you to listen to how 538 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:10,120 he processes. Winning the Masters versus the 539 00:28:10,120 --> 00:28:11,360 Christian life. Check this out you. 540 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:14,480 Say constantly that your identity is not in your golf 541 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:16,520 scores. What is it about winning and 542 00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:18,080 competing then that you find satisfying? 543 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:20,240 You know, that's a really good question. 544 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:23,080 I, I was sitting around with my buddies this morning. 545 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:25,960 I was, I was a bit overwhelmed because I told him I was like, I 546 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:29,840 wish that I didn't want to win as badly as I did or as badly as 547 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:31,160 I do. I think it would make the 548 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:34,560 mornings easier. But I, I love winning. 549 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:36,320 I hate losing. I really do. 550 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:38,680 And when you're here in the biggest moments, when I'm 551 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:41,320 sitting there with the lead on Sunday, I really, really want to 552 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:44,200 win badly. And my buddies told me this 553 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:46,480 morning, you know, my victory was secure on the cross. 554 00:28:46,560 --> 00:28:51,920 And that's that's a pretty special feeling to know that I'm 555 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,800 secure for forever. And it doesn't matter, you know, 556 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:56,440 whether or not I win this tournament or if I lose this 557 00:28:56,440 --> 00:28:59,240 tournament, you know, my identity is secure for forever. 558 00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:00,800 Doesn't. Matter if I win this tournament 559 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:03,120 or not. What do you say? 560 00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:06,320 Let me translate. I've already won the win. 561 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:09,800 That matters. Now listen, I'm no masters. 562 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:11,600 Champions and let me just tell you how this worked out in my 563 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:13,880 life all right and Dad. 'S in the room. 564 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:15,240 Listen. Closely, because if you didn't 565 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:19,560 have this, you need to be this. The Christian life is a lot like 566 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:21,600 what would happen when I would walk up to the batter's box, 567 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:24,760 play a Little League baseball. Bottom of the sixth inning, 568 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:28,920 couple men on base, maybe tied up or down by run. 2 outs, maybe 569 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:32,040 full count. My dad either coaching the first 570 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:35,560 baseline or the third baseline in that moment, could be the 571 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:37,600 final pitch of the game. Might win, might lose. 572 00:29:37,600 --> 00:29:39,760 My dad would call a timeout, walk up to me, put his arm 573 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:41,000 around me, and say something like this. 574 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:42,880 I don't know how many times I heard it, but it was a bunch. 575 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:44,960 Son. Doesn't matter what happens 576 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:47,960 right here, no matter what, I'm going to love you. 577 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:57,640 What was my dad saying, Kyle? It doesn't matter whether we win 578 00:29:57,640 --> 00:30:01,840 or win or lose at this game. You're already a winner in life 579 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:07,800 because I'm your father and you're my son, and nothing could 580 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:11,960 ever change that. Listen, as a Christian, every 581 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:15,800 single day you step up in the life of the batter's box, OK? 582 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:19,600 And with your eyes on. Jesus, your coach, he puts his 583 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:21,200 arm around you and says, you know what? 584 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:25,480 Ball or strike today? Swing or miss, home run, single 585 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:30,600 strikeout, win or lose. At work or at school or on the 586 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:32,240 team or your activities or whatever. 587 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:34,320 I want you to know you're my son. 588 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:37,280 You're my. Daughter, you've already won. 589 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:40,000 Nothing could change my love for you. 590 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:43,960 All you got to do is step up and trust and obey. 591 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:46,080 Swing the bat by faith and guess what? 592 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:52,400 Trust me for the results. But you've already won by faith 593 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:55,560 in Jesus. John and priest Tim are about to 594 00:30:55,560 --> 00:30:56,360 come. Here's what I'm going. 595 00:30:56,360 --> 00:30:59,440 To ask you, I first just want to ask you, are you a winner? 596 00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:03,840 Are you born again by faith in Jesus? 597 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:07,240 I'm not asking you if you agree with me that Jesus is Lord or he 598 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:09,080 Savior. I'm asking you if you've buckled 599 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:11,120 up. I'm asking if you've put on 600 00:31:11,120 --> 00:31:13,440 sunscreen. I'm asking if you've pumped gas. 601 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:15,640 I'm asking if you've surrendered your life to Jesus. 602 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:19,240 There's a difference. Are you on his team? 603 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:21,280 Because if you're stepping up to the box on his team every day, 604 00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:25,040 you've already won. Now you just having fun living 605 00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:28,680 for the Kingdom of God till God calls you home doesn't mean you 606 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:30,320 won't get hit by a. Pitch every now and then, too, 607 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:32,360 all right? But you've already won. 608 00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:35,360 Are you a winner? Do you need to step out from 609 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:38,920 where you are in case, say, Kyle, I believe Jesus is real, 610 00:31:38,920 --> 00:31:41,640 that he exists at his Savior, but I've never buckled up by 611 00:31:41,640 --> 00:31:43,320 faith in Jesus Christ. It's time today. 612 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:44,400 Would you step out? Would you come? 613 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:46,360 Let me ask you this, are you a winner? 614 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:48,240 But you're not living like you're winning. 615 00:31:48,320 --> 00:31:50,360 You're letting the world win because you've got things in 616 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:51,920 your life. Your love for God doesn't look 617 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:54,440 like obedience right now. And the score is flipped on you. 618 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:55,600 You don't really know what to do. 619 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:58,320 You need to call a timeout and say, God, show me what's going 620 00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:01,120 on in my life, and now I need to lay down whatever I've picked 621 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:02,000 up. That's not healthy. 622 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:03,720 That's not true. That's not setting me free. 623 00:32:03,880 --> 00:32:06,560 Bring me back to a point of trusting and obeying you by 624 00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:09,840 faith. You're a winner. 625 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:12,320 You got to live like. One by putting it into. 626 00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:15,920 Practice. Do you need to come and? 627 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:18,000 Get on your knees because. Maybe you've never heard. 628 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:21,400 Or maybe. You need to be reminded of that 629 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:23,120 every day you wake up if. You belong to. 630 00:32:23,240 --> 00:32:26,160 Jesus, God is your father, You're his son or daughter and. 631 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:28,960 Nothing could change his love. For you and you're already. 632 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:32,440 A winner and you just want to say thank you, Jesus. 633 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:36,080 God help me wake up and get in the batter's box tomorrow with 634 00:32:36,080 --> 00:32:40,440 that on my mind and heart. Nothing, knowing nothing can 635 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:43,120 change that. I don't know. 636 00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:45,440 I don't, I don't know where you are. 637 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:50,200 But you were born to win, and winning is everything. 638 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:54,120 You got other things you're trying to win at that don't 639 00:32:54,120 --> 00:32:55,760 matter. That you need to lay down so you 640 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:58,240 can just seek to give your life energy to winning at what does 641 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:00,160 matter. I don't know how you need to 642 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:01,360 respond, but I'm going to ask you to. 643 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:04,160 I'm going to pray. Then we're going to stand and 644 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:07,040 respond to Jesus in His invitation to win Heavenly 645 00:33:07,040 --> 00:33:09,160 Father. I pray you'd have your way. 646 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:11,080 I pray, Father, that. You tell us how to. 647 00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:13,920 Respond today to you in Jesus name I pray, Amen. 648 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:16,200 Would y'all stand with me? Our encouragers are close. 649 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:18,920 You step out and come. You step out and come as the 650 00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:19,920 Lord calls.