Sermon: Grand
Slam
by
Chris Cumming
The title for today’s sermon is,
“Grand Slam.” I find this an exciting and intriguing term. I went online to
Wikipedia and read the following explanation for the term:
“In the sport of
baseball a ‘grand slam’ is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by base
runners [“bases loaded”].
According to the Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card
game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves taking all the possible
tricks. The word ‘slam’ by itself, usually is connected with a loud sound,
particularly of a door being closed with excess force; thus, slamming the door
on one’s opponent.” [end quote]
The term, “grand slam” has been extended to other sports, such as golf and
tennis, for sweeping a sport’s major tournaments. It is my belief that the term
can also be extended into the spiritual realm of the salvation process.
So just what is a spiritual grand slam? How does it work? Why would a
firstfruit desire to hit a spiritual grand slam? What does this have to do with
my salvation process?
Today, we will answer these questions and more as I encourage all of us to hit
and strive for spiritual grand slams.
In baseball, grand slams are a rarity. In the 2005 major league season, grand
slams accounted for 132 of the 5,017 home runs hit. This is just 2.6% of the
total. Do they have to be that rare in the salvation process? I think not.
Philippians 3:14
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus.
In baseball, we would have to call the grand slam a mark of perfection and among
the highest of goals. Getting to home plate and hitting a grand slam are
probably the two highest desires and goals in the game.
Notice what the commentary says for Philippians 3:14:
I press toward the mark - As he who was running a race did. The “mark”
means properly the object set up at a distance at which one looks or aims, and
hence the goal, or post which was set up at the end of a race-course, and which
was to be reached in order that the prize might be won. Here it means that which
is at the end of the Christian race – [The Kingdom]. ~Barnes Notes
We are in a race and pressing toward the mark of perfection, of salvation and
the Kingdom of God.
To hit the ultimate spiritual grand slam is a lifelong process. The ultimate
grand slam is hitting the ball right into the Kingdom. However, all along the
way we will have many grand slams, home runs, triples, doubles and single base
hits. We do this virtually every day in the salvation process. And the only
way to hit a spiritual grand slam or even a single base hit is to have the very
power of God.
Imagine Christ going to bat in a major league game. Do you believe that He
could hit a home run or even a grand slam His first time at bat? Well notice
this from the baseball record books: Again from Wikipedia…
“Four players hit a grand slam in their first Major League at- bat. Three of
these players hit their grand slam on the first pitch.
In our hitting of home runs and those occasional grand slams, it is actually
Christ in us, holding on to the bat and hitting those base hits to those grand
slams according to His purpose and plan.
In any case and in every spiritual situation we are to be striving for the grand
slam. Every “at bat” is your opportunity to strive for the mark as Paul says.
Luke 16:16
The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is
preached, and every man presseth into it.
From the Strong’s Concordance, the word “presseth” here means to “reflexively
force an outcome” or to “crowd yourself into the Kingdom” by the power of God.
According to Robertson’s Word Pictures, “presseth” means “entereth violently
into it.” It goes on to say that the corresponding saying occurs in Matthew
11:12. Turn there.
Matthew 11:12
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth
violence, and the violent take it by force.
Notice what the Adam Clarke has on, “the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence”:
The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence - The tax-gatherers and heathens, whom
the scribes and Pharisees think have no right to the kingdom of the Messiah,
filled with holy zeal and earnestness, seize at once on the proffered mercy of
the Gospel, and so take the kingdom as by force from those learned doctors who
claimed for themselves the chiefest places in that kingdom. Christ himself said,
The tax-gatherers and harlots go before you into the kingdom of God. ~Adam
Clarke
Do you not suffer violence in your striving for the Kingdom?
Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the
faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Did you catch those two little and very binding words in that scripture? The
words, “We must.” What does this mean?
And that we must - καὶ ὅτι δεῖ kai hoti dei. That it is fit or proper that
we should. Not that it is fixed by any fatal necessity, but that we are not to
expect that it will be otherwise. We are to calculate on it when we become
Christians. Why it is proper, or fit, the apostle did not state. But we may
remark that it is proper:
(1) Because such is the opposition of the world to pure religion that it cannot
be avoided. Of this they had had striking demonstration in Lystra and Iconium.
(2) it is necessary to reclaim us from wandering, and to keep us in the path of
duty, Psalm 119:67, Psalm 119:71.
Psalm 119: 67
Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Psalm 119:71
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Now continuing in the commentary and point number 3:
(3) it is necessary to wean us from the world; to keep before our minds the
great truth that we have here “no continuing city and no abiding place.” Trial
here makes us pant for a world of rest. The opposition of sinners makes us
desire that world where “the wicked shall cease from troubling,” and where there
shall be eternal friendship and peace.
(4) when we are persecuted and afflicted, we may remember that it has been the
lot of Christians from the beginning. We tread a path that has been watered by
the tears of the saints, and rendered sacred by the shedding of the best blood
on the earth. The Saviour trod that path; and it is enough that the “disciple be
as his master, and the servant as his lord,” Matthew 10:24-25. ~Barnes Notes
Matthew 10:24-25
24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as
his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more
shall they call them of his household?
Let us get back to the subject of the Grand Slam. Did you know that Lou Gehrig
and Alex Rodriguez hold the record for most lifetime Grand Slams? Each has 23.
Babe Ruth had 16.
Looking at the lifetime stats for Lou Gehrig, you might be amazed to know he
went to the plate 8,001 times. How many times have you been at bat
spiritually?
His grand slams represent only two tenths of one present of those 8,001 times at
bat. He did hit 493 homes runs though [6%]. He got to first a total of
2,721 times [34%]. His doubles total 534 [almost 7%] while his
triples total is 163 [2%].
Question: In our spiritual quest for a grand slam, will there be many
failures along the way?
Absolutely!!
I failed to give you one more important batting statistic for Lou Gehrig. Of
the 8,001 times at bat, he struck out a total of 4,090 times!! He had to put
the bat away and return to his bench 51% of all those times at bat.
Have you ever experienced momentary failures in the salvation process? I
know I have. Contemplate these scriptures:
Job 14:1
Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
Proverbs 24:16
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall
fall into mischief.
1 Corinthians 10:12
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Psalm 38:4-14 …I have received e-mails that sound like this
4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too
heavy for me.
5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.
6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in
my flesh.
8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my
heart.
9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it
also is gone from me.
11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar
off.
12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my
hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.
13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his
mouth.
14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
What does God say about momentary failures?
Psalm 145:14
The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed
down.
Psalm 37:23-24
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his
way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him
with his hand.
Joshua 1:9
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid,
neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou
goest.
When others momentarily fail, what can you do?
In answering this question, I want to go back to baseball.
How many of you know what a “RBI” is in baseball? A RBI means “Runs Batted
In.” Think about this for a moment and see one of the great reasons for the
brethren and why we meet in congregations. Say you are on the baseball team and
hit a double, meaning you hit the ball and was able to run to second base. Now
you are stuck. Now you need help. In the case of baseball, you need the next
batter to do well so you can advance to home plate.
If that batter hits a single base hit or better yet a double or triple, you get
to advance to home plate and that batter gets credit or at least partial credit
for getting you home. Does God talk about spiritual RBIs?
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is
alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Note: This scripture is not saying that one cannot accomplish great
things without human help. This is specifically a comparison here. If you were
in trouble, which would you prefer; to be alone or to have one or more come to
your aid? The answer is easy.
Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Going back to baseball and Lou Gehrig for a moment. In his total time in the
Major Leagues, he racked up 1,888 runs. He got to home plate 1,888 times. Now
notice what else he did: He had 1,995 RBIs!! He helped almost 2,000 other
players get home. Getting to home plate in baseball is among the player’s
highest goals and calling.
What promises from God do we have regarding momentary failure?
I could give you Psalm 145:14 again, only this time showing the promise that God
will pick you up when you fail. But let us go now to Psalm 94
Psalm 94:18
When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
Psalm 119:117
Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes
continually.
Luke 22:31-32
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you,
that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed
for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy
brethren.
James 4:10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Philippians 4:11-13
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state
I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in
all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and
to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Psalm 146:8
The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed
down: the LORD loveth the righteous:
Quotes on Overcoming Failure
Thomas Edison said, “Many of life’s failures are men who did not realize how
close they were to success when they gave up.”
“Most people achieved their greatest success one step beyond what looked like
their greatest failure.”
“Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.”
Dale Carnegie said, “Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure
are two of the surest stepping stones to success.”
“Don't be afraid to fail. Don't waste energy trying to cover up failure. Learn
from your failures and go on to the next challenge. It's OK to fail. If you're
not failing, you're not growing.”
The king of grand slams, Lou Gehrig was called, “The Iron Horse” because he
never quit. He grabbed on to each at-bat as a wonderful opportunity. He played
in 2,130 consecutive games. He did not want to miss anything.
To the firstfruit, each day is game day. If you live to be 70 year old, you have
had 25,550 game days…consecutively.
Can God do miracles in our attaining spiritual success?
Ask baseball player Fernando Tatis, who on 23 April 1999 hit two grand slams…IN
THE SAME INNING!!
Romans 5:1-2
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and
rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation
worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Note: The miracle grand slam is in verse three. “We glory in
tribulations.” Not only do we hope for the grand slam [verse 2] but we
hit the grand slam in our tribulations.
Which is the greater feat; Fernando Tatis hitting two grand slams in one inning
or you invoking glory in tribulation? Which is the greater miracle?
When I talk here of hitting a grand slam, a home run or even a base it, I am
talking about spiritual success.
What does God have to say about our spiritual success?
Psalm 37:3-5
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily
thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine
heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to
pass.
1 Kings 2:3
And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his
statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is
written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest,
and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the
world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world.
Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate
therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is
written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou
shalt have good success.
Quotes on Success
Abraham Lincoln said, “Success is going from failure to failure without
losing your enthusiasm.”
George Patton said, “Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.”
Albert Einstein said, “In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity.”
Ephesians 3:20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or
think, according to the power that worketh in us.
Babe Ruth once said, “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”
Mickey Mantle said, “Somebody once asked me if I ever went up to the plate
trying to hit a home run. I said, “Sure, every time.”
Let’s end with these three questions.
We now know that God wants us to hit a grand slam. Does He ever show us how?
Hebrews 12:1 …and this is just one instruction
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and
let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
What happens when we hit that ultimate grand slam?
Revelation 3:21
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also
overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Are we able to overcome all failures and reap success?
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
It’s time to step up to the plate.
---end of sermon---
Resources:
Lou Gehrig in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Gehrig
Fernando Tatis - 2 grand slams in one inning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syFmUVFNRZE
Lou Gehrig - The Iron Horse - A Tribute
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Akxduexqug
Mickey Mantle 1973 - His Last Home Run
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9fNcMLaW_A
Babe Ruth hits 60th Home Run. Notice he fails the first three times at bat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASyj1nk5wFo