Becoming a Champion

Topic: Becoming a Champion

Bible Text: 2 Timothy 2:1-5

Introduction:

It is said of Abraham Lincoln, that before he became one of the greatest presidents America has ever had, that he tried but failed in many different positions, but with the spirit of determination, he was able to become the president of this country in 1860. Abraham had in him a desire and a determination to be a champion. Do we ever have that desire to be a champion in our life? Do we ever had that spirit and determination, to be even a champion in our class, village or in any area of our life?

When Paul was writing his second letter to a young man Timothy in 2 Timothy, he challenged this young minister to strive, to endure hardness to become a champion of Jesus. From the time Paul was converted, he himself endured hardness, persecutions and afflictions, that he became a great champion of Jesus Christ. By the time he wrote his second letter to this young man Timothy, he had already done his best for Jesus that he even felt he was ready to die as a great champion of his master Jesus Christ. To Paul standing a few hours before his persecution, he knew he was not just losing his life but was giving it up for Jesus who died for him, he was ready to die because he had done his best for his master.

Many times we are blinded by the possessions of this world yet time comes and we live them all behind. But we can be confident like Paul if only we have lived our lives for Jesus. One thing that helped Paul to keep on keeping on was a fact that he was constantly looking forward to the great and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ, he lifted up his eyes beyond every obstacle and challenge in his way he realized that Jesus is the only answer to all the longings in this world.

This letter is not only for Timothy but a challenge most especially to us young people living in the very end time, that in all our ambitions in life, all our endeavours in life, this desire should be above all others, to become champions of Jesus Christ. As like Paul, this is the greatest achievement a young man can attain in this world, the same made Paul died with hope that he had indeed fought a good fight.

Illustration: A young man was dying from cancer, he said he was not afraid of cancer but he was afraid to die because he felt he had not done enough with his strength for Jesus who died for him. Do we as a Christian especially the youths of this generation think that we had done enough for Christ? What if you are faced with situations like this young man who was diagnosed with cancer and can’t do anything for the Lord? Higher that the highest human thought can reach is God’s ideal for His children. Godliness, godlikeness is the goal to be reached.

We will look at four ways in which we should become a champion for Jesus.

1. BE STRONG (2 Timothy 2:1):

If we look the first verse of 2 Timothy 2, we see a striking words ‘Be Strong’ in Jesus Christ. Paul was urging Timothy to be strong always in the Lord despite of the hardships, struggles, problems that he faced in his ministry. Paul knew for sure that Timothy was going to face lots of obstacles in his path in proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. So, he encourages his servant Timothy to be strong in the Lord and not to give up.

Talking about strength we may be tempted to think of the strongest men in the whole world, but this verse talks about spiritual strength, the kind of strength that is found in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s the kind of strength that Daniel depended upon to stand before Kings and to hung out with hungry lions that Jesus depended upon to accomplish His mission in this world. It’s no other but the strength of prayer and reading God’s word by faith. Christian youth need to depend on God’s strength and not on our own strength. If we really want to be a true Champion for Christ, we need to depend and submit totally on God. To be strong means to totally depend upon God in everything that we do and not to lean on our own understanding. This can be done through constant prayer and reading of His word.

Illustration: David was a young man who always depends on God in everything that he does. When the Israelites were upset and have nothing to do with the Giant Goliath, David step up in the name of the living God. Because he came in the name of the Lord, he slay down the big enemy Goliath with a piece of stone. He is a true champion for the Lord. He could achieve that feat not because of his might but because of God’s strength. If we depend on God in our life, the impossible could turn to possible. Trust God and depend on him and most importantly, be strong in the Lord in order to become a champion for God.

2. ENDURANCE (2 Timothy 2:3):

The second criterion to become champion for God is endurance. Paul encouraged this young man Timothy to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus. Satan seeks to discourage us, to even press big obstacles in our way but if we are to be champions of Jesus, we need to endure hardness, to be patient, to press on. Paul himself endured hardness, the disciples endured hardness, Jesus lived in this sinful world, He endured hardness away from His Father’s home, was despised, forsaken, bitten, spit upon yet He endured pain and suffering simply because he had a mission to fulfil, He said in John 16:33 and Philippians 2:5.

Here in this verse 3, Paul compared hardness to a soldier sent to war, he faces many challenges on the battlefield but he endures hardness and that makes him a good soldier. Our Christian journey is like a battlefield and our enemy is attacking us every day in order to lose our battle. In spite of many temptations, failures, discouragement, and persecution we need to endure all these things in order to be a true champion. We are all Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ. We are in the battlefield and our enemy is Satan. We should try to defeat our enemy with patient endurance.

Illustration: The best example for us can be the life of Job who endures all forms of hardships in his life and family. He lost his children, he lost all of his wealth and possessions, his body was filled with leprous. However, despite of all those setbacks in his life, he waits patiently on the Lord. He endures all of them for the Lord. And God gave him victory at the end. And he became a true example for the Christians. We should also be like Job who endures everything for the Lord. Only then can we become true champions for Christ.

3. DEDICATED LIFE (2 Timothy 2:4):

The third point in order to become a champion for Christ is a dedicated life. If a person wanted to become a soldier, he should firstly realised and know that he should face many problems in his work. Because a soldier life is full of dedication, hardships, working under the rain, sun and have to face many challenges in his life. It requires lots of commitment and dedication. He should also know that he is under the control of the commanding officer. He should obey every command that is given to him. The task of a soldier is to please his commanding officer.

In the same way, in our Christian journey, life we need to have a dedicated life for God. God is our commanding officer and we need to please Him in every circumstance. A soldier gives his 100 % in his work and lives out his life to safeguard his country. Likewise, we should give our best to the Lord. We should give 100% and work for God. In order to become a true champion for God, a life of dedication is necessary in every sphere of life.

4. FOLLOW GOD'S INSTRUCTION (2 Timothy 2:5):

Lastly, in order to become a true champion for Christ we need to follow God’s instruction. In verse 5 we see clearly that if anyone wants to compete in an athlete, he or she should competes according to the rules and regulations of the sports. Unless he or she follows that instruction, he should not be qualified to compete. In the times of Paul, they give importance to ‘Isthmian games’ (Olympic Games). They have strict rules and whoever does not follow the rules are disqualified and given punishment. So, it is important and necessary to follow any instructions carefully set by the authorities in order to win the crown. Likewise, in our Christian walk we should also follow the instruction that is set before us by God. We ought to follow God’s instructions carefully in order to achieve the crown and become a true champion for God. We become champions of Jesus by following His rules, instructions and no other but His Ten commandments, guidelines of our lives simply because we love Him, we obey Him.

Illustration: There was a great marathon runner, who competes on a race. After he competes he came first and won the race. However, the authorities realise that he did not register his name, so he was disqualified in spite of winning the race. This led to the loss of a medal he would have won; instead it was given to the second person to him who followed the rules of the game. He had to forfeit his medal because he did not follow the instructions. So, it is important to follow the instructions which are set before us. As a Christian youth, we are the hope and future of the generations to come. We need to set an example to others. We should follow God’s instruction in order to please God and become champion for Christ.

Conclusion:

We have listed down four important points from the given text on how to become a champion for Christ. It needs courage and to be strong, it also requires endurance, dedicated life and also following God’s instructions. As a Christian youth, God requires us to come out for him and be a true champion for Him. We are the energetic, the future hope of the society and church. We need to set an example for the coming generations.