Listen to Music That Matters while you browse (opens in a new tab)

Playing from victory

(Click here for a video of John reading this Catch.)

th-3

“You play from victory, not for victory.” Cooper Kupp, Super Bowl LVI MVP

I had to think about it for a while to make sure I heard him correctly. Yes, that was what Cooper Kupp said after the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl victory: “You play from victory, not for victory.” You don’t hear insights like that coming from professional football players very often. And it almost went by me. Whether or not he was intending it to be, that is a very spiritual insight. It’s actually a very New Covenant concept. We’re not trying to gain something we don’t have, we’re learning to operate out of what we already possess. “But thanks be to God who always leads us in His triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14). As a matter of fact, this is the difference between the old and the new covenants. The old one, you are always working to achieve something you don’t have. The new one, you are working to make use of what you’ve already received through a victory you’ve been guaranteed. 

Gideon wasn’t trying to gain a victory over the Midianites, he was seizing the victory that was already his. It was promised by the Lord and guaranteed by the crazy directions God gave him to follow, wielding the dangerous weapons of torches, clay pots and trumpets. (Sounds more like they were going to a Mardi Gras than a major battle against an outnumbered foe.) Follow the Lord’s battle plan and you are already victorious. 

We’re not working for approval from the Lord; we’re working from the Lord’s power in us. This is the way it should be all the time for us. We are not just gearing up for one big event. This is the way it is all the time for those who believe. It’s the Super Bowl every day, working from victory, not for victory.

I mentioned earlier that this appeared to be a spiritual insight, though at the time I wrote that I knew nothing about Kupp’s spiritual life or commitments. Then I found this Instagram message from his wife Anna to him following the Rams NFC Championship victory over the 49ers: “In this moment. These moments!!! I thank God for each and every one of them. We have prayed for a season to glorify our Savior Jesus Christ and you are doing just that my dear @cooperkupp. SURREAL!! 💙”

9 responses to “Playing from victory”

  1. Mark D Seguin

    TY 4 Today’s good Catch Pastor John I too didn’t know much about Cooper Kupp’s Spiritual life before reading the Catch, yet reading his wife’s Instagram post made me smile!

    Thank-you for taking the time finding it, appreciate it & you..

    Reply
  2. Toni Petrella

    Great Catch and such true words. Always glad when folks have strong faith in their lives and I even learned something new about working from victory and hopefully always remember that.

    Reply
  3. Toni Petrella

    I will try again

    Reply
  4. Toni Petrella

    Hopefully third time is a charm.

    Reply
  5. John A Fagliano

    21 For when a strong man is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe— 22 until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings. (Luke 11:21-22 NLT)

    THE FINAL SCORE AFTER THE CROSS AND RESURECTION:
    The strong man (Satan) Zero
    The Stronger Man (Jesus) All of his weapons, and his belongings

    Now let’s play from THAT victory!

    Reply
    1. jwfisch

      I like it!

      Reply
  6. Toni Petrella

    I will try again.

    Reply
  7. Dave Morgereth

    Agree 100% with the main point of this Catch (i.e. we live out our faith by walking in a victory we already possess), and respect Cooper Kupp a ton, but I can’t help wonder about the defensive backs who were trying to cover him when he was making all those catches. What if they are men of faith as well… how do they “play from victory?

    Reply
  8. Dr.Tina West , DC. MDIV

    Great insight John yes I agree the new covenant is where we come from and his covenant of what he gives us not what we achieve and it’s a wellspring of joy happiness peace not power or perfection from the new covenant my life verse is second Corinthians 31 through six but I mostly “chapter verse at chapter three verses three through six second Corinthians chapter 33 through six not that I am adequate in myself to consider anything from myself but we are servants of the new covenant to become ambassadors of the new covenant not of the law the law kills in the spirit gives life . When you and I were at PBC learning this from Ray and Ron Richie and the other pastors there and we all grew in a new covenant atmosphere behavior and inspiration to live the new covenant or the new agreement for New way of living and attitude.. If we become a new man or woman we have the Holy Spirit and that enlighten Sara is in our hearts to his word of who we are as his ambassadors coming from the new covenant so thank you coupe for your insight as well brother!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Powered by