Ps Brendan Kelly - Dominating Self

Morning Service, February 28 2010

When watching Roger Federer, it’s like watching a living legend—history in the making.
Whenever you see someone excel at what they do, it’s great to watch and learn from that person by asking 'what makes him/her a legend?', 'how did they get to where they are?' and more importantly, 'how did they stay there?'

Some would say his achievements are all to do with natural ability and skill—although that certainly contributes to his success. Many say it is mostly to do with his character. His character was not something that was natural; it is inbuilt and largely thanks to his Australian coach, Peter Carter.

It is said that as a boy, Roger spent more time with Peter Carter than he did his own parents, looking to him not only as a coach in his game, but a life-coach.

Today, Roger is now known for his cool, calm and controlled temperament. But this hasn't always been the case. Some say there were times when Federer’s tantrums on court were so extreme it was an embarrassment. It was through these character flaws that Peter Carter trained him in not only his game but his character, so that he would become what is now referred to as the greatest tennis player—ever!

Just prior to Roger’s 21st birthday, Peter Carter was tragically killed in an accident while on a safari. At the time, Roger was number ten in the world and the news stopped him in his tracks and taught him what really mattered in life, turning his game into a tribute to Peter Carter’s life.

Things happen in life that cause us to stop and consider life. The most significant thing Peter Carter taught Roger Federer is it’s not about dominating your opponent, it’s about dominating yourself.

The lesson is that there are many things that happen in life and we focus on dominating life, but really we need to learn to dominate ourselves.

OUR LIFE-COACH

12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. 13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight,O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:12-14

In the above scripture, David sheds light on the fact we all have 'secret faults'—errors we don't understand about ourselves—that others may see but to us remain a mystery. He prays for 'presumptuous sins' not to have dominion over him.
Just as Roger Federer had errors in his game that dominated his success, we have errors in our life that can dominate us. We, too, need a coach to overcome these faults.

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.[a] John 16:12-15

The Holy Spirit teaches us the truth about ourselves (even hidden faults).
The Holy Spirit (Spirit of truth) is our life-coach, given to us to guide us into all truth from the authority of the Father. He can illuminate these hidden faults that dominate our 'game' and coach us.
Our lives ought to be a tribute to the Holy Spirit at work in us.
The Holy Spirit shows us the areas in our lives where we may need more peace, longsuffering, perseverance, etc. (fruits of the Spirit).
If you learn from Him you will have dominance over presumptuous sins.
Before God had to save us from Hell, He saved us from ourselves. We can be our own worse enemy.
We need to be able to defer to the Holy Spirit in order to find dominion over life's 'volleys'.
If we were to ignore Him we would not have a chance of dominating the shots against us.

PARALLELS TO BE LEARNT FROM ROGER FEDERER

1. He has learnt to use pressure to his advantage to produce perfection.

It’s not about avoiding pressure in life, but using it to your advantage.

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14

2. He has learnt what to remember and what to forget.

It’s not just about remembering the wins, but also the things that make you into a better person.
If you don't learn what to remember and what to forget, you will lose heart.

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9

We need to fix our eyes on the things that make us more like Christ.

3. He has learnt to put things into perspective by learning to rule over his emotions.

“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42

It’s very clear to see that Jesus' will at this point was for the cup to pass by him, yet the intense emotions he felt did not impair his ability to say 'nevertheless not my will’, and dominate his emotions by getting things back into perspective. He knew what he was placed on earth to do.
When we pray, we need to ask more about God's will for our lives than our own.
It is really important for us to get control over our emotions and get God’s perspective by remembering HHis will for our lives. This is not to ignore emotions; we simply just need to get them into perspective.
If we let emotions rule, we get out of control.

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Jesus had perspective on the cross from the joy that was past (beyond) the cross.
Fixing our eyes on Jesus teaches us to get perspective, handle pressure and not lose heart.

4. He has learnt that the privilege of the journey is the true reward.

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

The trophy isn't the true reward, it’s the journey.
In the above scripture, Paul is not interested in earthly accolades but what happens when he reaches the Lord. Note: Paul says he 'finished the race' in opposed to 'won the race'.
When we are received by Jesus, He will look at our journey.
Whatever trophies we receive in life are always attributed the the work our life-coach (the Holy Spirit) has done in us.

5. He has learnt that complaining and blaming others costs him games.

Do all things without complaining and disputing Philippians 2:14

Conclusion

Roger Federer is just a man who took on board the advice of a valuable life-coach. We, too, have a life-coach: the Holy Spirit. If only we would make up our minds to embrace and outwork his character and values in our lives then the rest of life will look after itself.

Let’s be people who are like King David, praying as he did 'cleanse me of my secret faults' and allowing God to do a work in us and coach us to be all He wants for us.

We have to admit there are times we fail, but we must never be content with our failings; we desire for Him to keep working in us.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51: 10-11

Research on Rodger Federer for this message was sourced from the following websites: www.rogerfederer.com ‘Encounter with a 15 year old’ www.jockbio.com/Bios/Federer/Federer.bio.html