May | 17 | Be a Legend in Your Own Lifetime!

Key Word:- POWER

Title:- Be a Legend in Your Own Lifetime!

Joshua 1:11 “Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, 'Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.'”

Sugar Ray Leonard is indeed an international sports legend. Born today in 1956 he learned to box aged 14 and it was family medical bills which forced him to enter the professional arena to help pay off mounting debts. He went on to win five world titles in five different weight categories, a record that stands to this day. Legend turned celebrity, Leonard has become like so many retired champions a 'motivational' speaker and for Fortune 500 companies, his most booked speech is on 'POWER'. “Prepare, Overcome, and Win Every Round.” Let’s have a look at that today.

Preparation is important for overcoming. Preparation involves committment, focus and sacrifice. If we do not prepare, we rarely overcome. “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it “Luke 14:28

Overcoming, is a great link word in this little acronym of P.O.W.E.R! You see to overcome you don't just need to prepare, you need to continue in your preparation despite the many difficulties, disappointments and setbacks that will surely come upon you. In this fallen world, any attempt at improvement and progress will be thwarted by thorns and weeds of various kinds and any spiritual improvement, leading to possession of that which had previously been stolen from us, will be thoroughly resisted by the forces of darkness. Guaranteed! I have noticed that the powerful people of God are people of persistence and they are, by the blood of the Lamb, overcomers of every difficulty! Guaranteed!

The thorns never stop growing and the darkness only draws back to gather its forces and counter attack once more. The King's highway winds its way through the valley of humiliation and up and along the frosty wind exposed crest of the hill of difficulty. There is a rest for the people of God, but it’s when we pass through the gates dear friends, when we pass through those pearly gates! Until then, to ensure we arrive as champions in the courts of God, we need to make sure that we win every round! The point is this, objectives are often not achieved through overcoming but one difficulty, or by winning just one battle. No, usually it's by winning many battles. Undaunted persistence will slowly, steadily, surely, gain you more and more ground, take you past the tipping point and move you into the glorious realm of being the trained and muscular overcomer, the prepared challenger, the seasoned champion, where you can stand atop your trod down thorns, your pulled up weeds, your slain giant and raise up it’s severed head and shout: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. All things! In all these things I am more than conquerors through Him who loved me.” (Romans 8:37 & Philippians 4:13)

So, just as preparation is the key to overcoming, so is persistent perseverance. We must plan, focus, and engage in such a way that we win 'every round.' This should be our goal. As a note, I want to encourage you in your failure because in reality, winning every round does not happen friends. Anywhere! Even ‘Sugar Ray’ couldn't win every round! However, the focus is important and that is to cultivate a 'No quarter', 'Never give in' kind of attitude.

Finally today, even if the final bell of this present fight you are in has gone, and you're all beat up and bloody on the canvas, then let me tell you friend, it's not time to give up! It's time to get back into training, and this time ‘Prepare, and Overcome and set your heart to Winning Every Round.’ All P.O.W.E.R. to you friend. All the power in heaven and earth. Now STOP WHINING and START WINNING!

Listen: - But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8

Pray: - Lord, I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loved me and gave Himself for me. Now Lord, help me live it every moment of every single day. Amen and amen!