03/08/2025
Sermon Title: WINNING TEAM
Preacher: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Text: Proverbs 22:29 – “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”
Introduction
Victory is sweet. There is a kind of joy that only winners can understand. Ask anyone who has come first in a race, scored the winning goal in a tournament, or overcome a mighty obstacle — the thrill of victory is priceless. But the truth remains that nobody celebrates a loser. In this world and in the world to come, only winners — overcomers — are celebrated.
In Revelation 2:17, the Bible says:
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."
This tells us that even in Heaven, rewards are reserved for winners.
Now in every winning team, there are key components that must be in place. Without a coach, a team may not win. Without strategy, they will fail. Without teamwork, they will scatter. And without preparation, they will collapse.
So today, by God’s grace, we will examine three major things that must be in place if you want to be part of God’s Winning Team.
Point 1: You Must Know How to Win
Proverbs 4:7 – “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
Success is not accidental. There is a path to victory. There is a formula to winning. That is why you must pursue wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 9:16 says,
"Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard."
You see, you can be strong and still be defeated. But a wise man — even with little — can conquer. Wisdom gives you an edge.
Ecclesiastes 10:10 adds:
"If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct."
In this world, it is not the fastest that wins. It is not always the strongest that succeeds. It is he who has the wisdom to move with God.
God will show you the way to succeed, in Jesus' name.
Point 2: You Must Work Hard
Proverbs 12:24 – “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.”
Hard work distinguishes winners from average men. If you do what others do, you will get what others get. But if you go the extra mile, you will shine.
The way to win is to do more than the average. Do more than your competitors. Put in more effort. Study deeper. Pray longer. Fast more. Serve better.
Also, learn to protect your weak points. Why? Because the devil is watching. He knows where to strike. In a football match, the opponent often targets the weakest defender. In life, it is the same.
Work hard, guard your weak spots, and never settle for less.
Point 3: You Need Divine Involvement to Win
Ecclesiastes 9:11 – “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong...”
Let me shock you: hard work and wisdom alone are not enough. Many people are wise and hardworking and still fail — because they lack divine help.
The Bible says in Romans 9:15-16,
"For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy... So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."
Your success in life depends 100% on God. If God calls you a winner, then you are a winner — even before the race begins. If He favours you, protocols will break for your sake.
So the winning team is the team that has wisdom, diligence, and above all, divine favour.
Conclusion: Are You on God's Winning Team?
To be on God's winning team, you must surrender your life to Jesus — He is the Head Coach. He knows the end from the beginning. He doesn’t lose any battle. If He leads your team, your victory is guaranteed.
If you haven’t surrendered to Jesus, now is the time. Because outside of Him, you can do nothing (John 15:5). But in Him, you are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37).
