Today, Apostle Charles will encourage us to "Stay in the Game" with God. What game? This is Stephanie Wright and welcome to Episode 5, in our Series, “Empowered Through Jesus, Our Living Hope.” Let’s listen as Apostle Charles tells us how Jesus empowers us to Stay in the Game.
Are you running for Jesus and staying in the game? Hello, everyone. This is Apostle Charles. Let’s get started on today’s empowerment message, “Stay in the Game.”
We are speaking about staying in the game. We are here to encourage and empower you through God’s Word to stay in the game. So, what do we mean when we say, “Stay in the Game”? And how do we, “Stay in the Game”? And is there a reward for staying in the game? Those are the questions we are going to attempt answer today.
If you want to contact us or comment on this podcast, please visit our website at cgmissions.com/podcast, where all episodes are available by category in series format. You can see the most recent video and audio podcasts at:
www.youtube.com/@cgmissionsinc then select from the video or podcast"Playlist."
CGM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations may be made on our website: https://www.cgmissions.com/donate-here/
Today, Apostle Charles will encourage us to "Stay in the Game" with God. What game? This is Stephanie Wright and welcome to Episode 5, in our Series, “Empowered Through Jesus, Our Living Hope.” Let’s listen as Apostle Charles tells us how Jesus empowers us to Stay in the Game.
Are you running for Jesus and staying in the game? Hello, everyone. This is Apostle Charles. Let’s get started on today’s empowerment message, “Stay in the Game.”
We are speaking about staying in the game. We are here to encourage and empower you through God’s Word to stay in the game. So, what do we mean when we say, “Stay in the Game”? And how do we, “Stay in the Game”? And is there a reward for staying in the game? Those are the questions we are going to attempt answer today.
If you want to contact us or comment on this podcast, please visit our website at cgmissions.com/podcast, where all episodes are available by category in series format. You can see the most recent video and audio podcasts at:
www.youtube.com/@cgmissionsinc then select from the video or podcast"Playlist."
CGM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations may be made on our website: https://www.cgmissions.com/donate-here/
Episode 5, “Stay in the Game”
STEPHANIE: Today, Apostle Charles will encourage us to "Stay in the Game" with God. What game? This is Stephanie Wright and welcome to Episode 5, in our Series, “Empowered Through Jesus, Our Living Hope.” Let’s listen as Apostle Charles tells us how Jesus empowers us to Stay in the Game.
CHARLES: Are you running for Jesus and staying in the game? Hello, everyone. This is Apostle Charles. Let’s get started on today’s empowerment message, “Stay in the Game.”
We are speaking about staying in the game. We are here to encourage and empower you through God’s Word to stay in the game. So, what do we mean when we say, “Stay in the Game”? And how do we, “Stay in the Game”? And is there a reward for staying in the game? Those are the questions we are going to attempt answer today.
Our nation is really in love with sports. We really love our football, basketball, wrestling, soccer and lacrosse. But those are not the games that we’re talking about today. We’re speaking about the game in the Spirit. We're talking about the spiritual game that we are in. And so that's why we are calling this message, “Stay in the Game.” We could say, “Stay in the Spirit.” When we watch a game being played in the natural, we expect the players to stay in the game to the end of the game. And we are disappointed if for some reason they give up before the game is over, experience injury, or some may walk off the field. Some are poor sports. We are comparing these warrior games in the natural to our warfare in the spiritual. We cannot give up!
Now, let us be clear. Spiritual warfare is not a game. This warfare for our salvation and the salvation of others is not a natural game. Quite the contrary. But there are analogies to sports that have been used in the scriptures to describe the battle we are fighting. The scriptures specifically reference running in a race, being in a boxing match and wrestling with an opponent. We are in a race and we are in a fight and Ephesians tells us that we are also in a wrestling match. Let’s look at what the Apostle Paul said in first Corinthians 9:24-27. But, before we go there, I just want you to know, we are here to encourage you today because someone has been wanting to give up. Someone has been wanting to throw in the towel. We are here to tell you today, you should not and you will not give up with God’s help.
This is what it says in I Corinthians 9:24-27, as modified. “Do you know that those who run in a race, all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” (Paul is telling us to run this race, to win.) “Every one who competes in the games, exercises self‑control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable crown.” (It says “wreath” and not “crown” in this scripture because that's how they were rewarded back in those days.) They would receive a little wreath on their head which would wither over time. But we're running our race for a crown that is imperishable and will be everlasting. Paul goes on to say. “Therefore, I run in such a way as not without aim. I box in such a way as not beating the air, but I discipline my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”
So, we're speaking about the kind of race we are running. We’re running a spiritual race, a race for souls. Paul is letting us know that we are in a race, not only for our life, but we are in this race for our souls and the souls of others. Our loved ones, friends, enemies, yes, even our enemies. We’re supposed to be praying for them, sinners and even saints because we are commanded and admonished in James chapter five, verse 16, to pray for one another. Paul is so serious about this commission for souls, running this race for souls and running this race for our own souls. Paul and James are so serious about this that they compared themselves to being slaves. Paul says in first Corinthians chapter nine, verses 19 through 23, “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all so that I may win more. To the Jews as a Jew so that I might win Jews. To the weak, I became weak that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.” Have you become weak while running for Jesus or have you become weary in well doing?
After listening to Paul’s words, one could ask, “Are we as serious about this race as Paul was? Or, do we have what is known as a cavalier, comme-ci-comme-ca attitude?” In other words, do we say, “Whatever is going to happen, is going to happen, what will be will be, and the whole world can go to the devil as long as my loved ones and I are saved?”
Do we really cry out for all lost souls or just say, I got mine, let them get their own salvation. We are not really running this race if we are not concerned about other souls being saved, not just our loved ones, but those who are hurting all over this world. We run this race, knowing that we are in a fight that we will be attacked by the enemy, but we will not give up. We will not give in. We will not throw in the towel, but will at all costs reject surrender to our enemy. The only One we will surrender to is to our God, no white flags to the devil. Amen. We present our bodies, a living sacrifice to God. Romans 12:1, tells us we are running the race for more than just ourselves - more than just “me.” In fact, there is no way we can fulfill the great commission if we are just running the race for ourselves, our loved ones and not for everyone. That doesn't even sound right.
The Bible says to go into all the world in Mark chapter 16, verses 15 and 16, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” We compel people to come into the kingdom. So, we run God’s race. We fight God’s fight. We wrestle not only for ourselves, but our loved ones and the whole world. If you have prepared for this race, you feel the pressure like Jesus did. So, “Stay in the Game.”
So how are we supposed to run this race? How are we supposed to fight this fight? How are we to wrestle? First of all, we have to trust God that He will lead us, that He will guide us, that He will give us the direction that we need as we go through this spiritual race for souls. We have to really trust in the Holy Spirit to lead us. And we have to be obedient when God does speak to us. This is a race that is going to require a lot of spiritual stamina. It’s not given to the one that's the quickest. It is given to the one who endures to the end. So, you're going to need some good guidance.
We can tell you some good things to guide you, like praying, fasting and staying in your Word. You know those basics but there are things that the Holy Ghost will tell you and expect you to obey, if you are one of His slaves. So, we need to listen because He is the best coach and we need the best coach while running this race. So, listen to the coach. That's what we need to do if we're going to run this race and run it to win.
A coach knows our weaknesses and where we need to be strengthened. And that's how God is. He knows where our weaknesses are. But the Word of God says that the weak are to say they are strong. That is what God wants to do. He knows our weaknesses, but He is here to help us to be strong in those weak areas. So, we can run this race for ourselves and for others successfully. We must pray for one another while we are running this race. Yes, pray while you run. We need to pray for our leaders because they are in the race also. We need to remember to pray for the pastors, apostles, preachers, evangelists and the teachers. Remember to pray for these people. Remember to pray for them today because the enemy loves to attack those who bring the Word and bring the Truth. When we pray for each other in the Spirit, then God reveals to us by his Spirit, what we need to pray for in order to be victorious.
So, what is the payoff in running this race, in being determined that you're going to run this race to the end? What is the reward for you? Romans eight and 18 says, “For, I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” What is you payoff and glory?
Now when we talk about sports in the natural world, they get paid a whole lot of money, that’s their reward. I mean, ridiculous amounts of money. In some cases, millions of dollars. But remember those millions of dollars are like those wreaths we referenced earlier – they will perish. It's all going pass away. It's going to disintegrate, the material things of this life, they are going to fade away. But the crown of life is everlasting.
Now we know that a lot of us think about Romans 8 and 18, when it talks about the glory which shall be revealed in us. We think about heaven. But we should look at this verse a little bit differently. This glory that is revealed in us is to be discovered in the earth. God's glory is in us being seen by women, men, and children. You know, they see God's glory in us because when trouble comes, they call you to pray for them. So, they see God's glory in you. When trouble comes, folks that you haven't heard from sometimes in years, will call you to pray for them. And they know who to call. They know when they're dealing with situations that they really need someone to pray because they have seen the glory of God in you. So, it is worth staying in the game. It is worth not quitting. It is worth not giving up. It is worth not throwing in the towel because we have a commission to fulfill. We have a God to serve and glorify. We are the ones who have been chosen to run in this race. We have been chosen to run in this, “Olympics of Life.” And another reason we've got to stay in the game is because Jesus thought enough of us, that he stayed in the game all the way to the end. He went to Calvary. He died. He didn't get down off that cross. And he did it willingly. He suffered for us. And if He could go through as the Son of Man, we can go through with God’s help. We must remember that Jesus prayed for you, me, and us. (John 17).
Therefore, we are able to go through. Hebrews 4 verse15, tells us that Jesus knows what we go through, for He was tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Jesus understood wanting to give up. We know he did because when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane, he asked God, is there any way that this cup can be taken away from me. But he nevertheless told his father, “Thy will be done.” Let God’s will be done in you. “Stay in the Game.”
So, we stay in the game because Jesus fought this fight for us. Therefore, you really can't give up. We know we get tired sometimes. But if we get tired, we just need some R&R, rest and relaxation - recuperate, go get relaxed, get resuscitated, whatever the cost. Yes, we get tired. Yes, we get weary. But the Word of God tells us don't be weary in well-doing. Galatians 6 verse 9. God knows and God knew we would get tired in well-doing. He knew that was going to happen because he never would have put it in Galatians. RECOUP and get refreshed so you can stay in the game.
Don't let yourself be influenced by too many things, people, and situations that are distracting. Stay focused! When we get caught up with distractions, they can just drag us down. Be careful who you're running with and whose spirits may be be influencing you.
So, thank God. Today, we hope you have been encouraged to stay in the game. Stay in the fight. Don't quit. Don't give up. Reject surrender because the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18. Amen!
STEPHANIE: God bless you all and have a good rest of your week. And remember to, “Stay in the Game”!
Now, stay with us as Apostle Charles closes with prayer and our contact information. And if you would like to be a guest on our podcast, contact us at cgmpresents@gmail.com
Closing
CHARLES: If you do not know Jesus as your Living Hope, invite Him into your heart today. Call on him to save your life to a life that pleases God. Pray with me.
Holy Father, God in heaven, we’re asking for your unfailing love, grace, mercy and strength to be upon your people who “Stay in the Game.” We desire to grow spiritually in your ordained Olympics of Life. We pray for your encouragement to finish this race, to receive your crown of righteousness, and hear you say, “Well done.”
Thank you Lord, in Jesus Name.
Thank you for listening and praying with us. And remember to stay in the game!