Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today, let’s parallel a triumphant team.

Today’s scripture, 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 (NLT) says…
[14] But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. [15] Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.

Consider…
In a press conference on October 30, 2002, New York Jets head coach Herm Edwards said the famous quote, “you play to win the game”. Coach Edwards is a known believer in Jesus Christ, so I imagine 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (NLT), may have inspired his statement. No doubt Coach read…
[24] Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! [25] All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

Teams are formed with a goal of winning. The same is true with God’s team. Today’s scripture highlights that God leads us in Christ’s triumphant victory.

As I wrote that, the Holy Spirit gave me a flash to a new, more appropriate team parallel to God. It’s the team that supports a champion boxer. I remember watching the celebratory entry of Mike Tyson into the ring with his entourage. Once he stepped up to the boxing apron, I noticed, most of the entourage stayed on the floor. At first I thought most of an entourage is really just a hype team. But according to World Boxing Council regulations, only four assistants are allowed in the corner of each of the boxers, but only one will be able to get inside the ring between rounds.

Here’s one parallel, only the Holy Spirit could get in the ring with Jesus in His battle with sin and death. The same is true with us in our battles, only the God can get into the ring during and between rounds to help us.

Another parallel, is Mike Tyson was notorious for winning his matches with immediate knockouts. Because of his knockouts, there was usually no need for a judges review at the end. In the same way, Jesus won a Technical Knock Out (TKO) over sin and death on the Cross and in Resurrection.

On the cross Jesus said, “it is finished” (John 19:30). Jesus declared the match was over!

While Jesus’ victory on the cross defeated the penalty of sin and the power of death, in Satan’s mind it was actually a round he won. However, with Jesus’ resurrection in Mark 16:6, which reminds me of Mohammed Ali who famously won with the ‘rope a dope’ strategy, the final knockout punch was landed for final victory.

The Holy Spirit is telling me to encourage someone to know that no matter how the rounds of life may seem, because you are on The Champ’s team you are always winning. Actually, because you’re with Christ, you’ve already won.

Romans 6:7-11 (NLT) explains it this way…
[7] For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. [8] And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. [9] We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. [10] When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. [11] So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

This means no matter what we face, Christ tells us that we don’t have to sin in order to win because we’re alive with Him. In fact Jesus said in John 16:33 (NLT)…
[33] I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

The Holy Spirit is emphasizing our victory is in Jesus! It’s Jesus who won the battle, we’re just part of the team that gets to reap the benefits of His victory. ✌🏾

I am hearing the hymn lyrics…

Verse 1
I heard an old, old story how a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood’s atoning,
Then I repented of my sins and won the victory

Chorus
O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him.
He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood

Verse 2
I heard about His healing, of His cleansing pow’r revealing
How he made the lame to walk again and caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, “Dear Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit,”
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there the song of victory.

Chorus
O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him.
He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood

Always remember there’s victory in Jesus!

The final thought on the week focused on team parallels, is that God is wanting us to understand that with Him we’re not joining a team that is trying to win, rather we’re part Christ Team who has already won. That’s why we can confidently say, we are victorious!

Today’s Song is…
We Are Victorious

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)