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Super bowl Sunday–The Second Half

Today’s Superbowl—who you got? How many of you are just glad the Patriots are not in it?

Everybody loves a comeback story.

SCORE: San Francisco 49ers 38, New Orleans Saints 35

DATE: Dec. 7, 1980

BIGGEST DEFICIT: 28 points

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Saints were winning 35-7 at halftime. Game over, right? Wrong. A quarterback named Joe Montana — in just his second NFL season — led the 49ers to the greatest comeback in NFL regular-season history. During 16 NFL seasons, Montana would lead his team to 31 fourth-quarter comebacks.

SCORE: St. Louis Cardinals 31, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28

DATE: Nov. 8, 1987

BIGGEST DEFICIT: 25 points

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Cardinals’ comeback from a 28-3 deficit wasn’t the biggest in NFL history, but it was the latest in NFL history. St. Louis scored an incredible 28 points … in the fourth quarter.

1992 wild card round: Bills 41, Oilers 38 — 32 points

The Bills trailed 35-3 at the half. Though the Oilers rallied to tie, the Bills prevailed on a Steve Christie field goal.

2013 wild card round: Colts 45, Chiefs 44 — 28 points

The Colts trailed 31-10 at halftime and 38-10 with 13:39 remaining in the third quarter. Indianapolis outscored Kansas City 35-6 the rest of the way for a 45-44 victory. The 28-point comeback the second-largest in NFL postseason history.

Super Bowl LI: Patriots 34, Falcons 28 (OT) — 25 points

The Patriots trailed 28-3 with 8 minutes, 31 seconds left in the third quarter, but pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history, if not sports championship history. They outscored the Falcons 31-0 the rest of the way.

2002 wild card round: 49ers 39, Giants 38 — 24 points

The 49ers trailed 38-14 at home in the second half vs the Giants.  The 49ers scored 25 unanswered points and won when the Giants botched the snap on a 40-yard field goal attempt as time ran out.

Job 42:12a New Living Translation (NLT)

12 So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning.

Whatever condition you are in today, whatever you are going through, whatever pain or affliction you are experiencing; I want to encourage you that it’s not over and God is not done! The second half can be better than the first.

In the meantime, while you are praying and waiting on God, here’s my half time speech to motivate you.

1. Don’t get stuck

Every great QB has the ability to overcome their last play. They don’t get stuck in the mindset of, “this is it. I’ll never make the next down”. They remain positive and confident that they will get out of the deficit they are in.

Vince Lombardi was a renowned football coach who led the Green Bay Packers to five NFL championships and two Super Bowl championships over a nine year period. Before Lombardi took over the coaching position, the Packers were a losing team, so he gained fame as a talented motivator.

The Super Bowl trophy was named in his honor.

“confidence is contagious, so is a lack of confidence”– Lombardi

“there is only one way to succeed in anything and that is to give it everything”

“The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur.”

You can get stuck in your thinking and become a prisoner of your mind and thoughts.

Proverbs 23:7 New King James Version (NKJV)

7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.

“Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.” – Lombardi

You have to have a revelation knowledge that this season of difficulty is not for forever. The way you think will either spur you to success or cause you stay stuck. How BIG is your God? Is Jesus lifted up in your life?

“the difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but a lack of will.”

Get out of self-pity mode!

“Pity was meant to be a spur that drives joy to help misery. But it can be used the wrong way round. It can be used for a kind of blackmailing. Those who choose misery can hold joy up to ransom, by pity.” CS Lewis

Philippians 1:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

2. Don’t complain.

God hates complaining. Say this out loud, “God hates complaining”

Numbers 11:1 New King James Version (NKJV)

11 Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.

1 Corinthians 10:10-11 New King James Version (NKJV)

10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now [a]all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our [b]admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

“Winning is a habit. Watch your thoughts, they become your beliefs. Watch your beliefs, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character.” –Lombardi

Thoughts become words- are you taking thoughts captive? Are you recognizing the lies of the enemy? Did you know it takes more energy to be negative than to be positive? Are people ignoring you? Maybe it’s because all you do is grumble and complain- it is draining to be around a constantly negative person. What good is it? And stop putting your complaining under the guise of “pray for me”, unless its “pray for the words of my mouth”

What words are coming out of your mouth when difficulties arise? Your words are powerful! Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. What are you putting in your heart? We say, “God is good all the time and all the time God is good”, but the words of your mouth reveal otherwise.

Complaining only reveals that you are dissatisfied with God’s provision. IS God not greater than your situation?? Lift yup Jesus in your thoughts and your words will follow

3. Don’t look back.

The first half is behind you. There’s nothing you can do about it. It is what it is. The only ability you have is to change the second half. How will you respond?

Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

There can be no regrets, no double-mindedness, and no going back

Hebrews 10:38 Now the[a] just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

Cortes the famous conquistador Captain landed in Veracruz in 1519. Upon arriving he gave orders for his men to “burn the ships”- all the ships. He forced his men to either succeed or die.

There’s nothing back there for you. I say, the only reason to look back is to remember how far He’s brought you. Remember the times He strengthened and helped you. Remember when He opened up the Red Sea before you and made an impossible situation possible. Remember these things-

But your failures, your sins, your times of doubt and worry- leave it in the past.

Things you cannot change- leave them in the past

Past hurts and offenses- leave them in the past

Philippians 3:13 New King James Version (NKJV)

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have [a]apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

Lift up Jesus and His ability to overcome, and forget your past.

4. Keep going. Don’t quit.

It is not over until God says it’s over.

After a tough loss to the New England Patriots in the 2012 AFC Championship Game, the Baltimore Ravens weren’t feeling good about themselves. A stripped pass in the end zone had prevented the Ravens from scoring the winning touchdown in the closing minute, and a missed field had kept them from tying it at the last second. However, Ray Lewis wasn’t about to listen to anyone who wanted to moan about the loss or a single play.

“We fought as a team,” he said in the locker room. “The fact is, we gotta come back and go to work.” They certainly did. The Ravens would avenge their AFC Championship Game loss in the next season against the Patriots before capturing their second Super Bowl title.

Quitting only produces regret.

“Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit”- Vince Lombardi

“The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall”

Author Bob Moorhead in his book, Words Aptly Spoken

Recounts a tale of a Rwandan man a century ago who was faced with the decision to renounce Christ or die. The night before he died, he wrote the following declaration:

“I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I’m finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, applause, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor by power. My pace is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road is narrow. My way rough. My companions few. My guide is reliable, and my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I’ve stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give ‘til I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He’ll have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear.”

Galatians 6:9 New King James Version (NKJV)

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (give up and quit)

You WILL reap, if you do not quit. But there is not harvest for the quitter, only an overgrown decaying field.

God will not be mocked- whatever we sow we WILL reap- therefore keep sowing good seeds. This is a universal law. Sow rebellion and discord- you get that back. Sow complaining and discouragement, you get that back. But sow righteousness, you get that back

Haven’t seen a harvest yet? Keep sowing to your Spirit. Haven’t seen loved ones saved? Keep praying. Not able to overcome that addiction? Keep reading and applying the Word of God. Keep attending church. Keep listening and applying the sermon. Keep fellowshipping with the righteous.

God’s Word is true and He cannot lie. Don’t quit. There have been promises of God I have been praying and believing for 25 years. He will do what He said He would do. Lift up Jesus.

5. You are never too old.

Once you get passed the time of a football player, you can move into a position of coaching.

Oldest coaches are in the range of 56 John Harbough to 67 Pete Carroll

Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau was 75- arguably the best ever to coach defense

In God’s kingdom, the strength of grace does not fail with the strength of nature. The last days of the saints are sometimes their best days, and their last work their best work: perseverance is evidence of sincerity.

Psalm 92:13-14 New King James Version (NKJV)

13 Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be [a]fresh and [b]flourishing,

Moses was about 80 when he delivered Israel out of Egypt

Aaron was 83

Caleb was 85 when he took the mountain full of giants in the promised land

Joshua was around 70+ when he led the Israel army the promised land

Paul was believed to have started preaching in his late 40’s to early 50’s and preached and traveled until his death

The Apostle John is historically recorded as being 93-94 at his death

Ps Connie mom is 92 and still traveling and preaching the Word

What obstacles are stopping you??

“Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal” –Lombardi

Lift Jesus up over your obstacles. He is able who promised.

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