Pregnant With a Vision: 7 Keys to Jumping Into the Winner's Circle
Dr RJ Sing, 16 July 2023, 40 min
Originally preached as “Becoming a Winner”
Sermon outline
What you choose to see becomes your reality, so renew your mind, carry a God-given vision, refuse to give up and jump out of the loser's circle into the winner's circle.
Main text
- Romans 12:1-2
- 2 Timothy 1:7
Opening
He prays, thanking God for Jesus who reconciles humanity to God and for the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who has been on the earth since Pentecost. He says his subject is that what you choose to see becomes your reality: what you believe and confess is engraved in your mind and endorsed in your spirit, so we must constantly confess the Word of God.
What you choose to see becomes your reality
Do not be conformed to this world but transformed by renewing your mind, which steers your life like a rudder steers a ship. Under the new covenant there are no more animal sacrifices; you are the living sacrifice, so bring your body to church even when you are offended, because God's blessing is where His people assemble. God has given us a sound mind, meaning safe thinking, good judgement and a disciplined thought pattern, and disciples are disciplined ones.
“Your mind is like a rudder that steers the ship.”
- Romans 12:1-2
- Romans 11:17
- Hebrews 10:25
- 2 Timothy 1:7
- Matthew 28:19
Value yourself and make a demand on God's ability
Don't let anyone else label you or put a price tag on you; be comfortable in your own skin and value yourself because God values you. See your unsaved family in your mind walking to church with their Bibles, because what we think brings to pass. Jesus did few miracles in Nazareth because they saw only a carpenter's son, but outcasts like the woman at the well made a demand on His ability; you must make that demand yourself.
“Think big. Ask big things. You have a big God.”
- Mark 6:3-5
- John 4:7-42
You will win when you have a vision
You must have a vision of what you want and where you are going, because God will not force it on you. Be specific in prayer, unlike the pagans who babble many words. Jump into the winner's circle: leadership is a lonely road and some will criticise you, but your hands, your feet and the organisation you work for are blessed because you are blessed.
Illustration: Pastor Yonggi Cho, once a Buddhist dying of tuberculosis, was saved when a young missionary kept visiting and finally wept for him. Praying for a bicycle, a chair and a desk, he heard the Lord say he must be specific, so he asked for an American bicycle, a swivel chair and a desk, and told people he already had them because he was 'pregnant' with them. Years ago in healing crusades Dr Sing touched people with his feet and they fell under the power of God; when a Christian criticised it, the Lord showed him 'how beautiful are the feet' of those who bring good news.
“There is two circles in life, a loser's circle and a winner's circle. Jump into the winner's circle.”
- Matthew 6:7
- Romans 10:15
Don't let discouragement stop you
When others criticise you, keep striving: at every level in life there is another level. Some pastors once mocked him as 'lucky lips', but believers do not believe in luck; they believe in destiny and God's blessing. Yonggi Cho taught that you must preach people into their future, not at where they are, so he sees your destiny when he preaches and prays for you.
“We don't believe in luck. No, we believe in destiny. We believe in God's blessings.”
You are a winner when you condition your mind
A winner works harder and longer without quitting, and in sport the difference between first and second place is determination. Stay in your lane, pace yourself and keep heading for the tape.
Illustration: At high school he ran the 400, 800 and 1,500 metres and won Natal colours, at a time when the system of the day did not let athletes of all race groups compete together. In the 800 metres, twice around Kings Park Stadium, he was coached to sit in third place on the first lap and then pass the others on the second lap to win.
“In sport, the difference between first and second place is determined by the participants' determination.”
The next key to winning is instruction
Every achievement must be preceded by careful planning, so take advice from people who have been more successful than you. Never go to a loser and ask him how to win. Many people with potential give up, but don't give up: push through.
“Never go to a loser and ask him how to win. Go to a winner.”
You are a winner when you have an objective
Many people with potential are too afraid to take risks, but without risk there is no win. Winners are willing to climb trees to reach the fruit, and you need not be anxious, because God has your back.
Illustration: As children they climbed mango trees without a thought for the height or the branches, because all they wanted was the fruit, even the green mangoes eaten with curry powder and salt.
“Winners are willing to climb trees.”
- Philippians 4:6
You win with the help of others
Train the people you employ and you will grow a reliable team that wins over the competition. Don't keep your secrets to yourself: sowing is not only money but kindness, love, mercy and helping others reach their goals, whether or not they are grateful. Help people climb the ladder and God will help you climb it.
“When you help others succeed, God will help you succeed.”
- Galatians 6:7
You are a winner when you fulfil your responsibilities
God gives gifts and abilities to everyone in the church, so don't sit on yours; tell a leader what you can do and get involved, because the work is everyone's responsibility. People may rob you or do you down, but God always balances the books.
“God is a great accountant. He'll always balance the books.”
The important key is you
People with self-pity give up, but God opens doors to those who keep on knocking, so don't talk yourself down: have a fight in you. A preacher must be a motivational teacher who preaches people into their destiny.
Illustration: As a detective, when he was handed a murder docket he told himself he would get to the bottom of it, and with God's help it was solved within 48 hours. Though 'the willing horse gets flogged' and he was sent everywhere to solve problems, he realised it was making him a better person and teaching him how to motivate people.
“Have a fight in you. Have a gusto in you.”
- Matthew 7:7
Putting it into practice
- Renew your mind and confess the Word until it shapes what you see.
- Write down a specific vision and pray specifically.
- Get past offence and keep bringing yourself to church.
- Learn from people who are winning, and help others succeed.
- Use your gifts in the church, and keep knocking until doors open.
Closing
He has the church stand and praise God, tells them he sees them as winners, and prophesies that if they have a vision and a goal they will get there, not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of God. He tells them to speak to their mountains, says they will do greater works, and encourages them to cry out to God for help to become successful and overcome every obstacle.
Declarations he led
- I won't give up. I'll push through. I'm determined. I'm a winner.
In his words
- “What you choose to see becomes your reality.”
- “Don't let someone else put a price tag on you.”
- “At every level in life, there's another level.”
- “You must always preach the people into their future.”
- “We are not motivational speakers. We are motivational teachers.”
Every scripture in this message
- John 16:7
- Romans 12:1-2
- Romans 11:17
- Hebrews 10:25
- 2 Timothy 1:7
- Matthew 28:19
- Mark 6:3-5
- John 4:7-42
- Matthew 6:7
- Romans 10:15
- Philippians 4:6
- Galatians 6:7
- Matthew 7:7
- Zechariah 4:6
- Mark 11:23
- John 14:12