The Greatest Locker Room Speech of All Time

On New Year’s Eve, I had the privilege of speaking at a retreat for Thrive. It was a great night! I talked about the Greatest Locker Room Speech of all Time found in Matthew 10. I unpack what Jesus said to the disciples before he sent them out in Matthew 10. We know what the disciples did with what Jesus told them to do. The question is, what are you going to do with what He said? This world desperately needs you to do what God called you to do. It’s time to get after it! Find out what will be required of you as you leave the locker room to go to the battle field.

I hope this message encourages you and inspires you to do something great for God. I’ve included the notes from the message below. You can listen to other messages I’ve spoken on my podcast page.  Listen to the message here:

Notes:
The Reality of the Time We’re Living In

Here is a link to the article I talk about by Perry Noble.

#1 – We Live In A Fallen World Where Evil Is Not Just A Mere Concept But Rather A Harsh Reality

#2 – This World Needs Jesus More Than Ever Before.

#3 – People Are Still Interested In The Local Church–And The Church Has More Work To Do Than Ever Before.

The Greatest Locker Room Speech Ever

Matthew 10
5 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions:

* Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.
* Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons.
* Don’t take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins.
* Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick.
* I am sending you out as sheep among wolves.
* You will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues.
* You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers.
* Don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time.
* All nations will hate you because you are my followers.
* Everyone who endures to the end will be saved.
* Don’t be afraid of those who threaten you.
* Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
* The very hairs on your head are all numbered.So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows
* “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
* Everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.
* “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine;
* If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.
* If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
* “Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me.
* If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.

How Are You Doing Outside of the Locker Room?

Be on Fire For God

Before you can ever be greatly used by God, you have to have a great relationship with Him.

How is your relationship with God? Scale 1-10?

Are you Truly Worshipping God?
Are you Discipling and being Discipled?
Are You Fellowshipping?
Are you serving?
Are you Evangelizing?
Are you Praying?

The answer to what is lacking in your life is whatever is lacking in your relationship with God….

Anything That holding you back in your Relationship with God isn’t worth it!

God’s Your Source

If God is for us, who can be against us? Acts 5:38-39

Be Secure in God
Who You Think You Are Doesn’t Matter

Who do you think you are? To be honest, it doesn’t matter who you think you are. Your job isn’t to figure out who you are and what you’re supposed to do. Your job is to discover who God made you to be and what He’s called you to do!

What does God say?
Jesus baptized… This is my Son the delight of my life in whom I am well pleased… All before Jesus did anything! Jesus operated his entire life knowing God was pleased with Him!

Do You Know You are Precious to God so you don’t have to be afraid?

* The very hairs on your head are all numbered.So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows
* Daniel 10:19 – Don’t be afraid. For you are very precious to God.
* God said to Moses, fear not, I’m WITH YOU EVERYWHERE YOU GO…

Security is knowing that God uses you inspire of your insecurities and weaknesses…and that He is with you wherever you go! Leads to confidences… boldness!

Get a Bigger Vision of What God can Do in and Through You

Christians should be the most influential people on the planet! In church, in business, in non-profit, in education, in government!

“God make my children the most used men of God on the planet.” -Steven Furtick

God’s looking for faith like that! God bring me to a position to be greatly be used by you!

Joseph became 2nd in command in all of Egypt! David became King! Billy Ghraham got to influence presidents! They were young!

It’s ok to be great!  

Luke 22:24-26 – 24 Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. 25 Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ 26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.

Jesus didn’t say, don’t try to be great. He just redefined what greatness is. Greatness is laying down your life to advance God’s Kingdom!

If God brings you to a position of greatness, it’s ultimately for others!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. We were born to manifest the glory of God within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people the ability to do the same.”

Don’t Quit, Regardless of the Cost

Are you Committed to Enduring to the End?

They Were Willing to Suffer

Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. 2:3

Soldiers go where they don’t want to go, wake up when they don’t want to wake up, miss holidays apart from their families  . . . for a higher purpose…. our nation. Why can’t we be willing to die to ourselves a little bit! We get upset if we have to be at church 45 minutes early! Come on!

Are you ok when life doesn’t always go your way? Are you willing to lay down your will for His? Your dreams for His dreams? Your idea of what is best for His idea for what is best?

No Matter What, We serve God!

No matter what – when it doesn’t make sense, when you don’t know why, when it’s hard, when it’s easy . . . Never quit!

The outcome of 1-5: They Were Greatly Used by God and They Are Still Impacting Our Lives Today

17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” Luke 10:17

What are you going to do with the locker room speech?

Who will be the next David, Joseph, Moses, Paul?

Conclusion:
Let’s go deeper in our relationship with God than we’ve ever gone
Let’s be Secure in who God says we are so we can boldly live for Him and Declare His Word!
Let’s commit to never quitting, regardless of the cost.
Let’s be willing to lay down our lives for the Kingdom.
Let’s live our lives so that at the end we can say I’ve fought the good fight, I’ve finished my race, I’ve kept the faith.
Let’s live our lives so one day we hear Him say, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”