Gatorade’s G- series advertisement takes us through three important “Before, During and After phases” of an athlete’s game. Usian Bolt (Jamaican Sprinter) gives us a glimpse into how Gatorade prime helps him prepare to race. Dwight Howard (American Basket Ball player) shows us how Gatorade perform keeps him Hydrated and playing at his fullest potential. Peyton Manning (American Football Quarter back) takes us into post game and shows us how Gatorade recover helps restore his muscles and replenishes his body with protein and carbohydrates. These three athletes have tapped into the power of Gatorade to sustain them before during and after their sporting event. It looks like it is helping them to perform their best (at least in the ad).
We can learn a few lessons by observing the lives of the athletes. The apostle Paul compares the Christian to an athlete and Christian life to a long distance race (marathon) not a short distance sprint. In Hebrew 12:1-1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” This scripture indicates that there were a host of Christians who have run with perseverance, completed the race and are now cheering us on to run the race that is cut out for us with perseverance.
Each of us are called to run our own race, we have no business to run some one else’s race. Some are busy running other people’s races while neglecting their own race. "During a class trip to the local pool, one first-grade student misplaced her towel. That night, the teacher received a frantic call from the girl's mother, who said that someone had stolen her daughter's towel. Trying to calm her down, the teacher asked her to describe the towel. 'It's white,' she snapped, 'with Holiday Inn written on it!"'
That’s what running some one else’s race means. Whenever you're tempted to point the finger at someone else, stop and ask yourself, "Have I ever been guilty of this?" This simple practice will not only help you to avoid a judgmental attitude, but it might save you from being hypocritical, as well. We are responsible for our own lives. Before we correct others let’s try to correct ourselves. We are called to run the race but how are we to run? What provision has God made for us before, during and after the race? How can we remain in the race and finish it well?
I. GOD’S POWER: BEFORE DURING AFTER.
Athletes in the sporting world depend on Gatorade or some other energy drink to give them renewed energy before during and after their game. Who gives renewable energy for a Christian? The Bible tells us in 2 Peter 1:3, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” All we need for this life is available in Jesus. We will talk more about this divine power later.
Before we ever began our Christian race God’s divine power made us accept Jesus as our LORD and Savior. For me that transition took place in 1982, for about twenty eight years I’ve been running my Christian race. During this period several times I felt tired and wanted to quit but it was the power of God that has kept me in the race. Have you ever felt weary to live as a Christian in this post Christian world? On earth there is no exception we all grow tired in body, mind, and soul. How can we regain our strength? There is a God given formula called “Wait for the LORD” Isaiah 40:30-31, “Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”
Two days, before the end of 2010, I was so discouraged, became increasingly irritable with my wife, children and every one else. I decided to go away and spend time with the LORD, so I locked myself in the upper room. For about six hours I was quite in the presence of the LORD, no cell phone, no computer, no singing out loud not even praying just reflecting and focusing on God. By the end of that time my strength was renewed, I found fresh love for my wife, children and the ministry God has given to me. That’s what happens when we tap into God’s power.
When last time did you tap into God’s power by being in the presence of God? Do you have any clue about how awesome and powerful our God is? In the children’s movie “Horton hears a who” the elephant hears a cry from help coming from a speck of dust. Even though he can't see anyone on the speck, he decides to help it. As it turns out, the speck of dust is home to the Whos, who live in their city of Whoville. Horton agrees to help protect the Whos and their home.” When we look through the eyes of the whos the elephant was huge and gigantic; they couldn’t protect themselves without the help of the elephant.
Similarly, we are so small in comparison to God. The Psalmist clearly puts our position in right perspective. Psalm 103: 14-16, “for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone and its place remembers it no more.” Yet some people have the audacity to reduce this great and awesome God to anything they like or choose to and they call it the higher power. I wonder how that can be possible. You can not put God in a box. God is much bigger. God is all powerful. There is absolutely nothing that God can not do.
The word power occurs nearly 300 times in the Bible and most of the time referring to God’s power. Let’s look at the scriptures that talk about God’s supernatural power.
Psalm 68:35, “The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.”
Psalm 147:5, “God is great and mighty in power”
Psalm 65:6 “God is clothed with power”
Jeremiah 10:12, “God made the earth by His power”
Psalm 66:7, “God rules by his power forever.”
Lk 4:14, Luke tells us that “Jesus went about his ministry in the power of the Spirit.”
Luke 4:36, “People were amazed by Jesus’ authority and power.”
Acts 10:38, Jesus had the power to heal and deliver people who were under the power of the devil.”
Mat 28:18-19 after the resurrection Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.”
I can not live my Christian life a without his strength, let alone to go out and bare witness with my own strength. My best sermons are just babbling if not empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit. I can not convict anyone or lead any one to Christ except by the power of the Holy Spirit. I can not quit any addictions on my own without God’s power. We need God’s power before during after in order to run our race effectively then we can say like Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now 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 longed for his appearing.” (2 Tim 4:7-8) How are you running your race? What are the secrets of tapping into God’s power so that you can receive his strength?
II. THREE KEYS TO RELEASING GOD’S POWER:
In 2 Pet 1:3 we read, His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him…” This scripture tells us that God’s divine power has give us everything we need for life and godliness, has this power been given to every one or only to God’s Children? If it is only for God’s Children then why some seem to live by that power and while others don’t? Though God’s power is available to every God’s Child many of us don’t even know such a thing exist let alone to know how to activate that power. I would like to share three keys to releasing God’s power in your life.
- PRAISE USHERS IN GOD’S POWER:
The Psalmist said, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you (Psalm 66:3) We often praise God for His love and grace, but don’t forget to praise Him for his power and worship him for his omnipotence. When King David was trapped in a house that was being surrounded by his enemies he wrote his thoughts in a psalm saying, “I will sing of your strength (power) in the morning I will sing of your love, for you are my fortress my refuge in times of trouble.” David knew from where he can draw strength.
In the same way when you feel like you are trapped by your employer, or people who are out there to harm you; you too can (SOL) Sing Out Loud of God’s power and your will see his power at work in scattering your enemies as he has done it over and over again in history.
B. READING & APPLYING GOD’S WORD
New Year is a good time to make a resolution to read God’s word in its entirety if you haven’t yet already done, even if you have done it, read it again. I can’t over emphasize how important and essential for a child of God to read, meditate and apply God’s word. There is power in God’s Word. Jesus scolded the Sadducees for knowing neither the scriptures nor the power of God.”(Matt 22:29) Great men and women of God in history were ardent readers of the Bible. God’s word can transform lives. George Muller, who was known for his strong faith, confided. "The first 3 years after conversion, I neglected the Word of God. Since I began to search it diligently, the blessing has been wonderful. I have read the Bible through one hundred times and always with increasing delight!" I too take great delight in reading God’s word. I completed the whole Bible several times, each time I read I discover some thing new. It’s about time you pick a Bible reading plan and start reading God’s word from today.
C.THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS US.
The final words of Jesus to his disciples were, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Truly, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell upon a group of timid, doubtful, and fearful disciples and transformed them as world changers. They went out throughout the world boldly proclaiming God’s word and willingly dying for it.
The same Holy Sprit that changed simple Galilean fishermen into world evangelists is available for you and me today. In fact God has promised to pour out his spirit on all people, both men and women, young and the old. We need the infilling of the Holy Spirit in order to lead a victorious Christian life. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. (Romans 8:26) Gal 5:16, says, “So I say, live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
The power of God can be released in a Christian by Praising God, reading and applying His word and by being filled with the Holy Spirit. Are you tired of living a mediocre Christian life? Are you discouraged by not being able to overcome addictions no matter how hard you have tried? Are you in need of boldness and courage to face the giants? Are you in need of emotional, physical healing? Do you want to be used of God in your ministry mightily? Are you crying out for the salvation of your loved ones? If your answer to all these questions is yes then you need without a doubt the power of God operating in your life. You need the power of God to make you begin an exciting journey with Christ, continue to give you strength during this lives journey and finally lead you into the presence of God when your earthly journey is completed.
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore. Amen
