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May 3, 2020

WINNING BY LOSING

Matthew 16:25-26

We live in a world where everybody wants to win. I watched the first few episodes of the recent Michael Jordan documentary, “The Last Dance,” and one of the things that jumps right out at you early on, is Jordan’s insatiable desire to win. He could not stand to lose—whether it was basketball, shooting pool, playing cards, or on the golf course. He was driven by a desire to win. I’m sure that Jordan is not alone. No doubt if you were to spend time with other professional athletes, business leaders and entrepreneurs, political leaders, and other successful people, you would probably find in many of them a strong desire to win and to keep winning; some no matter what the cost. The truth is, we all want to win. Nobody wants to lose. Well, here in Matthew 16:25, Jesus essentially says, “You’ve got to lose in order to win. Now, let’s understand the setting wherein Jesus makes this profound statement. Jesus had just told His disciples and others in the crowd, that He was going to Jerusalem, where He would suffer and die… Peter then pulls Jesus aside, protesting, “That can’t happen to You; You need to rebuke that thought!” Jesus turns and admonishes Peter; and then He says, “Whoever desires to save his life will lose it…” First, Jesus is saying to Peter, “I didn’t come to do what was good for Me; I came to do what was good for you.” “I did not come to do My will, I came to do My Father’s will.” “I did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give My life as a ransom for many.” Jesus was also sharing with His disciples what it means to belong to Him, and what it could cost to follow Him. “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Jesus is talking about winning by losing! Jesus is saying that “Winning by losing,” as paradoxical as it may sound, is really how we live lives that are vital, vibrant and victorious from God’s perspective. In order to embrace Jesus’ type of discipleship, first:

You will have to lose your fear of losing. We are taught to view losing as bad or unacceptable. A lot of us are terrified at the thought of losing. In Super bowl LI (51) the Atlanta Falcons had a 28-3 lead over the New England Patriots in the third quarter. And then they changed their style of play. They became conservative in their play calling. All of a sudden they were no longer playing to win, they were playing not to lose. Well, New England came back and won the game 34-28. Here’s my point: You can’t be afraid to lose. “I can’t lose my stuff.” “I can’t lose my job.” “I can’t lose my woman.” “I can’t lose my man.” The truth is: God sees things differently. He blesses us through our losses. Jacob lost his son Joseph for a time, but God returned Joseph to Jacob as a great leader and provider in a time of famine. God can use your losses to bless you. God can use losing to simplify your life. He can use losing to focus your life. He can use losing to purify your life. If you want God’s best for your life, you need to lose your fear of losing. “Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake…”

You must lose the desire to be in control of your life. Look closely at the text: “Whosoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Jesus offers two choices. You can live life as you see fit, on your own terms. You can be your own boss. You can call the shots, you can come up with your own plans and then try to work your plans; but in the end you will lose your life. The other choice Jesus offers is: To commit your life to Him. You can deny your own will, and surrender to His will. Let Him be your Boss. That involves dying to self, daily, as you take up the cross and follow Him (v.24). The Lord wants you to stop trying to control your own destiny, but to let Him direct you. If you trust your life to Him, you won’t lose your life!

It is those who give all who will get all in the end. When Jesus says,  “…but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it,” He’s referring to those who have discovered their true purpose for living, and that is giving their lives in service to Christ, not living for themselves. Jesus makes it clear that following Him involves risking it all: Safety, security, satisfaction in this world and life. But He promises that in His economy, those who give all will get all in the end; not those who live for this life, but those who give up their lives for My sake. The losers will be the winners. How many losers are watching to today? Thank God that you are a loser! You’re not alone.

Jesus, by the world’s standards was also a loser!

When Jesus went to the cross and died for our sins, He won through losing!

Jesus didn’t take power, He gave it up—and then He got up!

Paul said, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus!

March 22, 2020

A GOOD GOD FOR BAD TIMES
Nahum 1:7
Nothing is known of the author of this book, other than that he identifies himself as Nahum, the Elkoshite. Nahum means “consolation” or “comfort.” The book of Nahum is one of the shortest and most often overlooked books in the Old Testament. This book has only three chapters and forty-seven verses. The focus of this book is its prophesy of the fall of Nineveh, the capitol of Assyria, one of the cruelest, vilest, most powerful, and most idolatrous empires in the history of the world. Nineveh sat on the Tigris River, very close to the modern Iraqi city of Mosul. One hundred years before Nahum’s call, Jonah had preached in the streets of Nineveh; the people heard God’s message and turned their lives around. One hundred years later, the city again returned to its evil ways, and Nahum pronounces judgment on this nation. But God intended for the message to Nineveh to be overheard by His people, Judah. For God’s people, the message of Nahum was a message of comfort. Their comfort would be in knowing that God is still in control. When we consider the difficulties we are facing here in Memphis and Shelby County, across America, and around the world, we need a message of comfort during a time of chaos, a message of hope during a time of despair, a message of tranquility during a time of trouble. We need the reassurance that God is still in control. To those who are feeling stressed and depressed, or who are feeling beaten up by difficult circumstances, I want to tell you that we have: “A Good God for bad times!” Notice what the text says:

The Lord is good…(The personality of the Lord). This expression speaks to the absolute goodness of God. It is God’s nature to be good. Goodness is part of the character or personality of God. It is important for all of us to know this, especially in seasons of adversity. When things happen in life that are not good, that does not mean that God is not good, and it does not mean that God’s goodness is not being experienced or is not flowing into your life. Some of you know that God can take the bad and bring the good out of it (what does Romans 8:28 say?) Don’t become suspicious of God’s goodness when adversity strikes. Even when things are bad, God has a purpose that is good, a plan that is good, and a reason that is good, because God is good. Can you testify to God’s goodness? So because God is good, we know we can endure difficult days.

A stronghold in the day of trouble…(The protection of the Lord). The safest place in South Florida during the hurricane season may be the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The structure consists of 10-inch concrete walls capable of withstanding Category 5-level winds of up to 185 mph. Because these storms come every year, the Center is there to provide a safe working environment for the people who monitor the weather and issue weather warnings. When other residents leave the area, they have to stay. And just like hurricanes, storms also come in our lives. Often they come without warning, and linger long enough to test the limits of our faith. But God has given us a place of safety in the midst of our situations. The text says, that the Lord is, “A stronghold in the day of trouble. In Psalm 46:1-2, the psalmist stated, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear even though the earth be removed.” The people of Nineveh thought they were safe in their fortifications, but their security was nothing in comparison with the comfort and safety that God provides for His people. It is not our strength but God’s strength that shields us during the storms of life.

He knows those who trust in Him (The personal walk with the Lord). The word “trust” implies relationship, and a personal walk with God results from placing one’s trust in Him. How reassuring it is to consider the fact that God knows those who trust in Him. Jesus said, I know My own sheep, and they know Me (John 10:14). God knows you; He knows your prayers, your tears, fears, desires, He knows what you are, He knows what you’re not; He knows all about you. And, in times like these, it’s good to know Him. It’s good to know that whatever is going on, we can depend on God to see us through. It’s good to know that we can hold to His unchanging hand. It’s good to know that in tough times He’ll never leave us or forsake us. He’ll prop us when we’re leaning, He’ll shield us from danger, He’ll enfold us in His love, and save us by His grace! I’ve got a feeling everything’s going to be alright!