SERMON SUMMARY
Sunday, January
6, 2008
The Year of Visitation
Sermon given by Senior Pastor, Dan Tabolt
Counting the
Cost to Victory
I would like to make one thing absolutely clear before I start today. That
ultimately it is never the price that we pay or the effort that we put
forth, but all in all it is the price Jesus paid in full on the cross that
brings us victory. We read that Jesus set himself to go to the cross
knowing that in that act He would set us all free to have a victorious
life in Christ.
1 Cor 9:26 I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. NLT
1 Cor 9:26 Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. NKJV
I was not a big fighter in school. I did get into it with the Truck’s and
other notorious family as I was growing up. I chose my fights carefully.
Considering if I had the advantage and strength to win. One young man I
remember fighting was Ron Larget. He was bigger than I and I would say
stronger but he really did not know how to fight. He would come at you
with everything he had. Throwing punches kicking using his weight and
anything else he had, but he made one big mistake. He fought with his eyes
closed. All you had to do is let him ware himself down and he was easy as
a kitten to concur. The Apostle Paul was a faith fighter. He understood
that you must know what your trying to hit. You need a target. One of the
definitions for sin is missing the mark. Many a Christian is like Ron we
run into life full out but really do not know where we are going. We punch
and kick but have know idea what we need to be hitting. Again we look at
positioning ourselves for Victory in the coming year. Let’s remember these
statements.
If your not aiming at anything you will be sure to hit your target.
Nothing.
If you give nothing in this life you can expect nothing.
It is insane “Doing the things that you have always done and thinking you
will have different results.”
Cor 9:24- Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets
the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. 25 All
athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will
fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run straight to the
goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his
punches. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what
it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might
be disqualified. NLT
I. Principle
of Counting the Cost.
Luke 14:34 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to
them, 26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he
cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come
after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 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 — 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able
to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to
build and was not able to finish.' 31 Or what king, going to make war
against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is
able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty
thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a
delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you
does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. NKJV
Jesus speaks to us in three areas here about counting the cost. 1.
Loyalty, 2. How to build, 3. Going to war with a conclusion that all of
you must be engaged in Christ if you are to be victorious
1. The Story of Deon Sandors running past the graveyard.
2. Having a want to win attitude.
3. Do you know where you are punching?
II. Changing Your Eating Habits
A. Digesting the Words of God. [The seven stomachs of a cow]
James 2:20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without
works is dead? NKJV
James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues
in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will
be blessed in what he does. NKJV
1. Having a true Christ centered diet instead of a self centered diet.
A. The Cruel self master B. The Peace of the Christ centered.
2. Paul serving all attitude. 1 Cor 9 A Pattern of Self-Denial
3. Eating what God puts before you.
B. God is not your private chief.
2 Peter 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any
private interpretation, NKJV
The way we interpret what the word is speaking to us must be done
carefully by the Revelation of the Holy Spirit with a honest and humble
heart. If this is not done you become the source of revelation not the
Spirit of God.
III. Repositioning Yourself for Victory.
Open the Door for Change…
Jesus said in Revelations “Behold I stand at the door” But ask us to open
it.
So the question again comes to you and I. What are you doing different to
reposition yourself for victory? What do you need to confront in your
life? What is the training to change are you planning?
1 Cor 9:24- Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person
gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. 25 All
athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will
fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run straight to the
goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his
punches. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what
it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might
be disqualified. NLT
1. Return to a Childlike Heart and make yourself very teachable.
[SSS James 1:19]
2. Have you accepted your placement in life and the Body [team]
3. Have you accepted your teammates?
4. Why? What? And Where?
5. Remember the principle of three that brings balance.
2 Peter 1:5-11 READ But also for this very reason, giving all diligence,
add to your faith… for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11
for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting
kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. NKJV
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