Champions Are Never in a Hurry: 7 Wisdom Principles of Jesus

Sermon outline

Jesus grew in wisdom, stature and favour, and the principles He lived by, from ignoring critics and respecting authority to treating everyone well and going where He had never been, will lift you to a higher level when you practise them.

1. Jesus never allowed what others said about Him to change His opinion of Himself

   Jesus was slandered and even called possessed, but it never affected Him, because He knew where He came from, whom He was pleasing and where He was going. People fight what they don't understand, as Daniel, Joseph and Paul were all falsely accused. Jesus never begged anyone to believe in Him and never wasted time with critics, so don't spend your energy defending yourself; you don't have to strive to be good, because the Lord lives in you.

   “If you can just value yourself, then nobody can devalue you.”

   • Luke 6:22-23
   • Daniel 6
   • Genesis 39
   • Romans 5:5
   • Hebrews 11:7

2. Jesus understood timing and preparation

   The quality of your preparation determines the quality of your performance, and Jesus took 30 years to prepare for a ministry of about three and a half years. Your praying, fasting, study of the Word and time with the Lord, which no one sees, are preparing you for the day God suddenly uses you, because there is a gift and a calling in you that time will bring out. Patience is the name of the game.

   Illustration: Boxers do not become champions in the ring; they are only recognised there, having become champions in training where no one was watching. We are spoiled by fast food, where five minutes at McDonald's or KFC feels too long, and he told a friend starting out in business that a business is like a baby: give it time, nurture it and feed it.

   “Champions are never in a hurry.”

   • Luke 3:23

3. Jesus developed a passion for His goals

   Passion is power, and you will be remembered for your obsession. Jesus came to seek and save the lost and went about doing good, His mind set like flint until He reconciled humanity to God at the cross. God is with you; He compensated for his mistakes when He called him and will compensate for yours. Don't despise small beginnings or the level you are at: celebrate the now, because your winter will pass and summer is coming.

   “Celebrate where you are now. But you know that's not your permanent station.”

   • Luke 19:10
   • Acts 10:38
   • Hebrews 13:5
   • Colossians 3:23
   • Isaiah 50:7
   • Zechariah 4:10
   • Job 8:7

4. Jesus respected authority

   Authority creates order and mentorship is the master key to extraordinary success. If you criticise those over you, you sow a seed you will reap when you are promoted into that position, because seedtime and harvest never cease and whatever a man sows he will reap.

   Illustration: Order is why you park your car in the garage and not in the bathroom. As a young Christian he served and respected his pastor and sowed his way to where he wanted to be, so today he does not have to manipulate people into respecting or serving him.

   “Sow respect so that you will reap respect.”

   • Genesis 8:22
   • Galatians 6:7

5. Jesus never discriminated

   Treat people right and you will be treated right, whatever their station in life, race, sex, money or appearance. You don't have to be rich to be a breath of fresh air to someone, and you can only affirm others when you are secure in your own value. Stop prejudging people and never eliminate anyone from your chain of success.

   Illustration: He befriends petrol attendants, telling them he once sold newspapers on street corners as a boy, so they have hope too. After a car repair he had thank-you emails sent to the insurer and the panel shop, and both replied, 'You made my day.' Years ago he helped a man in shorts, a T-shirt and sandals find the person he was waiting for, and learnt that he was a medical doctor.

   “Remember the people while you're climbing up because you'll meet them when you're coming down.”

   • James 2:2-4

6. Jesus offered incentives

   Reward those who help you succeed, because no one arrives anywhere by chance. He is grateful for the preachers who inspired him, including Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland and Joyce Meyer, and remembers visiting South Africa's first megachurch in his twenties. If you change churches, don't muddy the waters for others; thank God for the church where you were healed and promoted.

   Illustration: When David faced Goliath, he asked what would be done for the man who killed him, and the promise of freedom from taxes and the king's daughter was his incentive.

   “Don't demean people. Don't decrease people. Lift them up.”

   • 1 Samuel 17:25-27

7. Jesus was willing to go where He had never been before

   Geography makes a difference: success requires being in the right place at the right time. Don't be afraid to step into the unknown, because the Lord is with you; Jesus was constantly arising and going to new places, Abraham did the same, and Joseph found incredible success in Egypt.

   “You never know what's waiting for you on the other side.”

   • Genesis 12:1
   • Genesis 41:41