Two rivals face-off for the game of a lifetime!
Have you ever wondered what type of game plan God has you on when it comes to overcoming the struggles within your life? or it be developing areas that seem to be weak or lacking? I started to think about this recently and wondered, “Why does it have to be so difficult?” or “Why can’t I just build up this area and move onto something else?”
Who is all playing in this game?
I would like to consider my thoughts into a Football game analogy. Football has been one of my favorite games and I played 4 years of it in high school. After 3 broken noses, fractures in the ankels, smashed hands, pinched nerves in the hands, concussion, and neck injury – I had enough of it. It was fun, but it also got rough. As they say, “it builds character”. I took a lot of lessons away with me in life from those days, but after high school, I knew that play days were over with football, and the reality of everyday life was settling in.
With that said, I want to take every day life and place it into the football game arena. Think of God within this context as the Head Coach, Quarterback, and Referee to observe game play of our lives. If we could define each position, this is who I want to think as behind each role:
The Head Coach represented as the “Father”.
The Quarterback represented as the “Son – Jesus Christ”
The Referee represented as the “Holy Spirit”
The Angels represented as playing “Team members”.
Then “You” represented as the “Action player”.
The Playing Field represented as “Life”.
On the Home Team side in the stands are other Christians.
On the other side of the ball is the opposing force called the “Enemy”.
Pre-Game Talk
If you ever notice in a football game, the Head Coach and the Quarterback talk consistently about strategy and what plays should be executed on the field. Before the big game, there is a lot of pre-game talk in the locker room, a lot of hyping each other, banging the helmets, slapping high fives, with ongoing chatter and yelling, but then, there comes that talk from the coach which just seems like it is just personally being spoken to you. The locker room or field house gets quite, and you listen to the overall strategy of what you must do out there on the field.
In the same way, Jesus Christ as we know wanted to always to do the perfect Will of the Father. When it was time do the mission, there was a special talk between Him and the Father. He had a pre-game mentality by expressing this Will to be loosed through prayer:
Matthew 6:5-15 (King James Version)
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Notice that He said “thy will be done“.
But secondly, during His time in the Garden of Gethsemane, before one of the greatest moments for Christ to die on the Cross for our sins, He took our sins onto himself, and again confirmed to the Father that He was mentally prepared to follow through with the plan:
Matthew 26:39,42 (New International Version)
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.
He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
Jesus confirmed that while He had His own free will, it was overridden for the benefit of all humanity by saying “as you will” and “your will be done”.
In preparation to seeing ourselves through situations, we have to enter the game with this type of mindset as demonstrated by Jesus. Are we listening to know what the play is? Are you ready to surrender your will, thoughts, and opinions to bring victory for the team? It can be difficult at times and that is what makes the difference on the type of game we will play within certain areas of our lives.
Get your Game Face On!
It’s time! You know that God wants you to confront an area in your life that you either need to overcome or develop further into a strength. Are you an All Star ? Going for a touch down on the first few plays? or is it going to be brutal fight for every single yard?
With numerous games to play in life, the clock has already started. Are you in the 1st Quarter of your life? the 2nd, 3rd or 4th? The game clock is ticking down. How long is it going to take for you to build up that particular area in your life or overcome your particular situation? It depends on how well you listen to the Coach, the Quarterback, knowing what your team members are doing and being in unity with them, OR are you too busy looking up into the big shiny lights along with all the people in the stands that are cheering you on, causing you to take your head out of the game ?
Now Get your head into the Game!
<SMACK..into the helmet…wake up!>
Have you ever looked at someone else who is trying to accomplish or overcome something in their life, and they just made it look all too easy? I am sure we have seen that many of times. And in that aspect, I have seen that with people who are struggling to overcome areas in their life that I am dealing with myself in which they receive full deliverance or empowerment from God. But why can’t I? Can I do the same thing? or is it really up to you or me? Are we calling the game or is the coach?
Is It a Passing or Running Game?
The Passing Game
For some people, when they seek God for empowerment or deliverance from situations, they are given a play as a receiver to basically run down that field, by-pass the defender on the opposing team, wait for the ball to be thrown as a pass, keep their eye on the ball, catching it in endzone. The next thing you hear are the whistles blowing and the words “TOUCHDOWN” are broadcasted over the loud speakers along with a cheering crowd. From the crowds perspective, it was an amazing feat.
But please note that the important key here in order to acquire such deliverance is that we must be willing to receive and be prepared to execute on what God has planned for us. If you don’t make the catch or run the patten correctly, that play is over and we must make an attempt on the next one to realize the achieved goal.
Some people are given that easy touchdown pass from God, while others such as ourselves may not be prepared or ready to execute the play quite yet. Though that person may have got a touchdown today, God will require a balanced strategy. They may have the air game down, but what can they do with the running game?
The Running Game
The running game is where the most brutal of brutal takes place. Every play is a fight to hold current position and hopefully make gains. This time you are not a receiver, you are the ball carrier. You are going to get knocked down, tackled, scraped up, cut up, taunted while in the midst of the pileup, worn down, hot and thirsty, take late hits, and the list goes on. But why must you do this running game? Doesn’t it go back to what I said earlier, “it builds character?” God wants us to fight these battles to know the cost, how intense the game can get, understanding the situation from a personal perspective, using it as an opportunity to spiritually mature us. You cannot get that insight standing on the sidelines (that is where the Enemy wants you to be – not doing anything for God’s Kingdom or for Him at all). You have to trudge through the mess of defenders who are there to stop you from succeeding and winning over that particular area. During all this time, God wants you to play with all of your Heart for Him … every bit of it. Eventually, as you develop and mature through the process, you will have that touchdown, and when victory arrives, it will mean that much more to you. Nothing that doesn’t cost you or require sacrifice won’t mean much to you or anyone else – but when you put your heart, blood, sweat and tears into it, that victory and memory takes on a whole new meaning. Through it you learn those lessons the “hard way” by constant contact and engagement each play. Eventually, you will learn to hit and run the holes provided by your offense. When you start getting God’s playbook (His Word & Instruction) into your mind, you will see an increased effectiveness during game play. The running game is the toughest to play, but what is inflicted upon you is all for the Kingdom and moving your life into the pefect Will of God.
You think you have it Rough?
If you ever think that you have had it rough in the game, just listen to Pauls’ running game:
2 Corinthians 11:23-30 (New International Version)
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
Still think you have it rough?
Don’t Wear Your Heart on your sleeve
A coach will tell you that if you play with all of your “Heart”, you are going to be a winner no matter what. When you put that much intensity into what you are doing, when you are pushing yourself, believing that everything is going to work out, having faith that execution will be somewhat perfect, no matter how many beatings you take or how many wins you get, that coach knows without a doubt that you played your heart out for him and did everything you could possibly do. It wasn’t just for you, it was for the team.
My football coach drilled into our heads constantly, “Don’t wear your heart on your sleeve”. He knows what you been through, he knows the game is emotional. All that matters is he knows. Or is there someone you want to impress?
Don’t let pride rule over you so that you can boast before a Pastor, your friends, other Christians. God knows what you have done for Him, and that is all that matters. While we are not perfect, God wants our Heart committed to His Will and not our own. In the end we all want to hear:
Matthew 15:21 (New International Version)
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! …”
Play the Game
As mentioned, we all have various types of games that we have to play. Sometimes the opponent is weak, other times, very tough, but you cannot win a game sitting on the bench or watching from the stands. There is a battle in the spiritual world taking place between good and evil that is fighting over your very life and whether you succeed in this life and the outcome of your eternal life.
Ephesians 6:12-13 (New International Version)
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Get suited up, get your pads on, put the mouth piece in – you have a game to play for the Lord!
Witness For The Master
Tags: Spiritual Warfare
April 11, 2008 at 2:50 pm |
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