Weekly Lesson 31

BECOMING A CHAMPION

2 Timothy 4:1-8, I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight; I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Abraham Lincoln became one of the great presidents of America. Before this, he tried and failed in many different positions. However, with his spirit of determination, he was able to overcome. Abraham Lincoln had the desire and a commitment it would take to be elected President.

Have you ever had the desire to be a champion in your life? Maybe you want to be a champion in football, spelling bee, cheerleader, soccer, chess or some other sport? Are you ready to have that same spirit of determination and commitment found in President Lincoln?

Those who are happy with just fitting in will fall short of being champions for Christ.

When Paul wrote his second letter to the young man named in 2 Timothy 4:1-8, he challenged Timothy to strive, to endure hardness to become a champion of Jesus. You must remember that from the time Paul was changed, he went through hardness, suffering, and sickness and became a grand champion of Jesus Christ.

By the time Paul wrote his second letter to this young man Timothy, he had already done his best for Jesus and felt he was ready to die like a champion of his master, Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 4:6, 7, 8.

Paul was days or perhaps hours before his execution; he knew he was giving his life for his faith in Jesus, who died for him. Many times, we become blinded worldly things yet, there is a time that comes when we leave them all behind. But we can also be sure of being a champion like Paul if we have lived our lives for Jesus.

One thing that helped Paul to keep going is that he always looked forward to the return of our Jesus, and looked beyond his hard times and challenges that came his way. He knew that Jesus was the answer to all the questions in his life.
Paul’s letter to Timothy is a challenge for all of us who try to serve Jesus with all our hearts with the hope of becoming champions of Jesus Christ. Like Paul, this is the greatest success a young man or woman can make in this world. We must “fight the good fight.”

Here are four ways to become a Champion for Christ:

1. BE STRONG
When we talk about being strong, we may be tempted to think of the strong men of the world, but we are talking about spiritual strength. We can only find this kind of power in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s the same strength that David needed to fight a giant like Goliath. Daniel also depended upon his spiritual strength to stand before Kings and be thrown into a lion’s den. Jesus used faith to accomplish His mission and to perform miracles. They all gained the strength they needed by prayer and knowing God’s Word. To be strong means to depend upon God in everything that we do and not to lean on our understanding. This strength can be developed through constant prayer and reading of His word.

2. ENDURE (GO THROUGH)
Paul encouraged Timothy to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus. Satan seeks to discourage us; he’ll put stumbling blocks in our path. But, Champions of Jesus will endure hardness, will be patient, and press on or keep moving forward. Paul himself suffered hardness, and so did the disciples. Jesus lived in this sinful world; He experienced cruelty away from His Father’s home, He was despised, forsaken, beaten, spit upon, yet He endured pain and suffering simply because he had a mission to fulfill.

3. SEEK GOD”S GUIDANCE
To become a champion of Jesus, you must be ready to choose Him above the pleasures and cares of this world. We need to depend upon Him every moment of our life. Paul knew to rely upon God for instruction and guidance, he says, Philippians 3:14. Though Jesus was God, throughout His Life here on earth, He depended upon the direction of His Heavenly Father. He spent time in prayer and reading God’s word for guidance.

4. FOLLOW GOD’S INSTRUCTION
We become champions of Jesus by following His rules, instructions, not just His Ten commandments, but all the instructions He gives us in His Word. We obey Him because we love Him. We love Him because He first loved us and died for us on the cross.

Are you ready to become a CHAMPION for JESUS?

Go to Romans Road to Salvation and/or Prayer of Rededication





Christ Centered Champions

Christ Centered Champions

We are more than champions through him who loved us. Romans 8:37