Game Changer: Make Jesus Your Master, Be Changed FOREVER.

Game Changer 1

Make Jesus Your Master, Be Changed FOREVER

by Andy Borero

Ever heard of the term game changer?

A game changer is someone who radically changes a current situation. He/she creates a significant shift in the game, per se. Game changers can be the basketball players who are able to drastically change the situation of their game, from defense to offense.

Manny Pacquiao, in his sport, is a potential game changer. Despite the fact that he lost his last two fights, we cannot hide the fact that he has won more than he lost. During his winning streak, people often wondered what made PacMan ticked, why his opponents often ended up asleep in the ring. Did he have some sort of elixir? Or some sort of specialized training?

The answer?

PacMan was unpredictable. His moves each fight were never the same. He kept his opponents guessing and in the end, they were too unconscious to figure it out.

We too can be game changers. We don't necessarily have to be sports fanatics to be one. We are tasked game changers for the Lord and with His guidance, we can change the way the world runs if we choose to be the difference.

But how?

Before we know the how-to's of being a game changer, we first have to know our coach, the One who handles all the game plays that we have to know.

We live in a world where the game between good versus evil gets tougher every single day. The ball goes from one court to another. Sometimes, we have the upper hand but there are moments when the opponent (in this case, Satan) manages to get the offense. He tricks us, causing us to fumble or to foul. 

The world as of now is being run by Satan; majority of the play is in his hands. People live as if there was no God. They party over here and over there till the sun sets, drink to their hearts content and wallow in their sin. You might think: "Well, I don't do that." But we are still victims of sin: we lie, we judge others and we basically fail to achieve the standards of God.

If we want to break free from our bondage and play a game without Satan holding out on us, then we have to know our Coach better.

Get to know Jesus!

The prophet Isaiah wrote about the coming Christ in chapter 42. 

A little bit of trivia:

The Bible has a total of 66 books. The Old Testament possesses 39 books, which were basically about the judgement of God to the Jews and their sin against Him. In the New Testament, we can read the remaining 27 books which spell out the hope of God found in Christ.

In the book of Isaiah, interestingly, there are also 66 chapters. In those 66 chapters, 39 of them are about God's judgement and 27 focus on the hope which is Christ.

Amazing, right?

The promise about Christ was written in chapter 42, verses 1 to 7. 

So...

Who is Jesus?

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

My chosen One whom I delight...

Isaiah 42:1a

Jesus is the Son of God. He was dearly beloved by the Father and He bore a special mission when He was first born.

Despite the fact that He is the Son of the Most High, notice how He was called as the servant. How can a son be a servant?

While He lived on this planet, Jesus submitted to the will of His Father. In every story written, we see Jesus doing what God told Him. It came to a point where He had to sacrifice Himself for those who spited Him because that was what the Father told Him: to die on the cross for the sins of mankind. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus honestly admitted to God that He was hesitant of the task. Nevertheless, He chose to submit to God.

How about you?

Have you been submitting to God lately?

When you have unfinished work and you can feel Him prodding you to finish it, do you obey or do you ignore His Word and bum off instead? When you know that He's telling you to let go of a certain girl or guy because you're both not ready for a committed relationship, do you follow Him or do you hold on tightly to that person?

Sometimes, we can't accept God's will for us. We think it's not the best for us. In fact, it's the complete opposite. What He wants is usually against what we want. But friends, God knows more than we do. He's God. He can see the bigger picture and we can't. We should learn to submit to Him in every aspect of our life: studies, family life, relationships, etc. There's nothing wrong with obeying the one who knows what's best for you.

It was also mentioned that Jesus was the Chosen One. When we say chosen, we immediately think of important beings or people with great tasks. Jesus was the chosen one sent to this Earth to deliver the people who believe in Him and in God. 

People think they can earn their way to heaven by doing good works. They have been sadly mistaken. Jesus is the only Way we have to the Father. It's only in Him where we can find SALVATION.

There are plenty of other assumptions about Jesus, some of them contrasting the truth. First, He is not someone who immediately punishes those who do not abide in Him. He's not a mean Dad with a belt who will spank you every time you get it wrong nor is he a deaf God or even a genie who grants wishes!

Jesus is God the Son. He and God are one. He's the One who holds the perfect plan of your life. He is the One who guides us and protects us. Although He allows disappointments in our lives, He doesn't mean it for our demise. He wants to build our character, to make us stronger people withstanding the challenges of this life. 

He will not shout or cry out,
Or raise His voice in the streets...

Isaiah 42:2

Jesus modeled humility. As mentioned in verse 2, He will not shout nor will He raise voice out in the streets. Even though He had every right to make others bow down to Him because of His status as the Son of God, Jesus chose to serve others instead. 

Paul in his letter to the Philippians encouraged us to follow the example of Christ:

In your relationship with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature, God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, He made Himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

He humbled Himself

by becoming obedient to death-

even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:5-8

A known NBA player lost everything when he succumbed to his selfishness. 

Allen Iverson, member of the Philadelphia 76ers, refused to be set on the bench. How can he gain fame if he remains seated on a bench while his teammates get all the glory? Iverson wanted to claim fame so he demanded his own way in whatever situation he was in. He transferred from team to team till eventually, he returned to the 76ers. His marriage fell apart, he lost all his money due to his gambling and drinking problem. 

Now, he's no longer a known NBA player. He's a thing from the past.

Dreams shattered and lost career- all because of selfishness.

That's the value of humility. It teaches us how we are to live our life patterned after Christ.

A bruised reed He will not break,

and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.

Isaiah 42:3a

Jesus is merciful. He modeled genuine mercy. 

During His time on Earth, the people have seen Him heal the sick and alleviate the pain of those in need. Even though most of His the crowd were sinners, He looked at them with compassion. Rather than smiting those who insulted Him right in His face, Christ chose to die for them. 

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

Jesus sees our hearts. Despite our dirty pasts, despite the numerous times we have broken His heart, He is still willing to open His arms for us if we acknowledge the fact that we are indeed unworthy of Him and cry out for His salvation. 

In faithfulness, He will bring forth justice;

He will not falter or be discouraged

Isaiah 42:3b

Jesus, like God the Father, is just. He knows the right time of justice. Most of us, when we have been wronged by our friends or classmates, we want revenge. We want them to feel bad like they did to us. But we shouldn't be after this. God knows what you did and how others have wronged you. Allow Him to take over and compose yourself.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5:10

What was the purpose of sending Jesus, you may ask?

...to open eyes that are blind,

to free captives from prison

and to release from the dungeon those who sit in the darkness

Isaiah 42:7

We each have our bondage. Some of us are addicted to watching pornography. There are others who remain in a puddle of bitterness, all the hurt replaying itself over and over again. Some are bound to their vanity, loving themselves every minute and looking down on others who are less in their opinion. Then, there are those who remain in the realms of possessiveness, insecurity, etc. 

Only JESUS can rescue us from these types of bondage. He is the Light of the world, the Redeemer of mankind. 

Remember Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Cory Monteith?

Besides being famed celebrities who were adored by millions, people with great careers, riddled with fame.

They also have another thing in common:

They were gone too soon.

Why?

Most of their deaths were involved with drugs. 

It's no secret that these celebrities somehow felt empty inside, despite the fame and fortune. They resolved to taking drugs in order to ease some of that emptiness, to feel nothing. However, they had to pay the price earlier than expected.

Only Jesus can pull you out in that darkness, friend! Not drugs, alcohol or relationships. 

Know your Coach better to be an effective Game Changer!

Written by: Ashley Bernadette Petallano (c) 2013