The Battle Continues IV…

My daughter pays basketball for her high school.  Recently we played a team where there was a player on the other team – that when she walked out on to the court I thought…

“Oh my, she is going to cause us some trouble”

Not because of anything bad, but because athlete and basketball was written all over her. She was by far the most talented player we had ever seen on the court…

there was just one problem

she was lazy.

She knew she was good, she knew she was great at basketball, she knew she was the best and you could see it in her attitude while she was on the court.

She thought a lot of herself, and to be honest her thoughts were correct but…

she was lazy.

She chewed gum (with an attitude), she didn’t hustle, she didn’t really go for any rebounds and  she was slow and sloppy when she got the ball.  She was kind of like…

just there.

She was never fully in the game she just kind of went with the flow of the game, and because of that  she became a non-factor.

But this post isn’t about her, its about the church.

Yesterday in our “Echo” devotional the question was asked… “Are you in the game?” This is a great question, but one that maybe a bit better is – Are you in the game and playing to the best of your ability?

You see the church has a bunch of talented people and the church is also filled with people that are empowered with spiritual gifts. Gifts that are directly linked to God and empowered by the Holy Spirit. If everyone “played the game” with all their might the church would be an overwhelming unstoppable force.  Are you the type of christian that is in the game and is playing to win or are you one of the gifted ones that are just going with the flow and not really playing to the best of your ability?

If you are not “In the game” playing your heart out for Jesus, that maybe why your church is weak and isn’t growing or succeeding.

It is the main reason churches seem to be on a decline or to put it in game vernacular…

losing.

Scripture speaks of the church as a body and says this concerning each member

If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (1 Corinthians 12:26 ESV)

This means every action you do as a member of God’s church effects the effectiveness of the church as a whole.  This includes how well you “play the game”…

it is time to spit the gum out, lite a fire up underneath our “rears” and hustle once again!

After all its not really a game we are playing… its a war we are fighting and to not give it 100% of your efforts and attention is to personally loose while hindering the progression of the church in that battle.

so… …be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:10-20 (ESV)