Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, July 03, 2005, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
HOW TO BE A BAD LOSER
By Michael D. O’Neal
Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church
Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Eccl. 3:1-10
Text: Eccl. 3:6
Ecclesiastes 3:6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
Introduction: There is a time for everything.
Some things happen according to an ordained time. Jesus came in the fulness of time. The Rapture will occur at exactly the time that God has
prepared for it to happen.
Some things are done by man in the wrong time. The Prodigal Son wanted his inheritance before it was time.
The Bible says in our text that there is a time to get, and a time to lose.
You’ve heard the expression, “I want to teach my child to be a good loser.” That is usually said in reference to being polite when someone loses a physical or sports competition.
Losing can actually be good, if you lose the right thing in the right time. In that sense, we should all want to be a good loser.
However, it is also possible to get something that is the wrong thing, or the wrong time, and end up being a loser.
Crystal visited with us this weekend and saw one of our old pictures. She said to Mrs. O’Neal, “You lost a lot of weight since that picture.” That was a good way to lose.
Then she said to me, “Preacher, you’ve lost a lot of hair and some teeth since that picture.” I’m kidding, but that’s a bad way to lose.
This morning’s message is titled
HOW TO BE A BAD LOSER
Let me prepare you for these thoughts, because what I’m going to give you is exactly opposite of the “winning” philosophy of this world. However, that shouldn’t surprise us because the world runs in a completely contrary direction as the Lord.
I. LOVE YOURSELF
Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
If you want to be a real loser, a bad loser, then
A. Think of yourself
B. Talk about yourself
C. Treat yourself
II. LIFT UP YOURSELF
Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
If you want to be a real loser, a bad loser, then
A. Praise yourself
B. Persuade yourself how good you are
C. Promote yourself
III. LAY UP FOR YOURSELF
Matthew 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
If you want to be a real loser, a bad loser, then
A. Lay up treasures for your own pleasure
B. Lay up treasures for your own prosperity (2 Cor. 8:9)
C. Lay up treasures for your own provision later (Prov. 13:22)
IV. LIVE FOR YOURSELF
Matthew 20:27-28 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but
to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Philippians 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
If you want to be a real loser, a bad loser, then
A. Achieve only your goals
B. Acquire only your things
C. Advance only your cause
Conclusion: If you want to be a real loser, then focus on you. If you want to be a winner, focus on God first, others next, and you last!
Michael D. O’Neal (Proverbs 11:30), Pastor,
Gospel Light Baptist Church
P.O. Box 3071 (237 Lockett Station Road),
Albany, GA 31706
(229) 432-0039 (church) / (229) 698-2127 (parsonage)
*Scriptures in my notes are from the Authorized Version 1611 -KJV- and are used by permission of the Author – Ephesians. 6:17*
“Come Alive In 2005”