For sports fans this is an exciting time of the year.  The Kansas City Chiefs just became the Super Bowl champions.

The All-Star Game for the National Basketball League is about to take place.  And soon, the college basketball teams will be seeking a place in the NCAA basketball championships.

Major League baseball is gearing up for the start of spring training with each team dreaming of becoming the World Series champions.

It is not easy to become a champion. . .it takes determination, practice, discipline and commitment to never give up, give in, back up, back down, sit down, quit or walk away until victory is achieved.

God has given each of us the heart of a champion far beyond the field of athletic endeavor.  Much like an earthly father who wants his children to be champions in whatever they undertake. . .our Heavenly Father desires for you and I. . .His children to win in the game of life.

We always refer to Jesus as a conqueror. . .one who conquered death, hell and the grave. . .yet we never call him a champion.

Throughout history, conquerors are those who went to war where there was the spilling of blood.

That’s why Jesus was and is a conqueror. . .He spilled blood. . .overcame demonic opposition to become a champion for our salvation.

In order for us to be conquerors. . .we must first champions in the areas of our lives where we’ve been given a vision, a goal, a dream and/or a calling.

We must prevail. . .as champions over the areas where we’ve been given stewardship.

There are seven characteristics of a champion.

Have you ever had something come through at just the right time to meet a specific need?

I know we have. . .

I remember once when our bookkeeper made a mistake which resulted in our owing $14,000 in taxes. . .which we discovered a week before it had to be paid.  And frankly, we didn’t have that amount of cash readily available.

We had nowhere else to go except God. . .and moved on believing God would somehow provide. 

We also reminded the Lord that we tithed and gave offerings regularly to keep the windows of heaven open and keep harvests coming in.

I was speaking that next Sunday at a church in southern California. . .it was an incredible service.

Can you imagine my surprise when the Pastor handed me a check for $16,000?  And for preaching a one-hour Sunday morning service?

I discovered later that a man in the church had given $10,000 in the offering in appreciation for advice I had given him a year or so before.  He later told me the advice made him hundreds of thousands of dollars.