Football is probably the most popular game of the American people. But, if you are not familiar with the game. Let me explain this highly competitive contest by saying, football is a game played with two teams opposing one another, and one football. The ball is an inflated rubber bag in a leather cover. The object of the game is to score points by carrying the ball over the opponents goal line, or by kicking the ball through the upright bars of the opponents goal post. When you apply the Christian principals to this game : it becomes quite clear that this game, sports event, comes not from the lord God, but from the devil. That it might cripple, and cause many to be invalid. You can read through the bible carefully, and you will not find were the lord God commands a person to abstain from playing football, playing poker, boxing, wrestling, taking part in an eating contest, nor taking part in a high diving contest God almighty, simply commands all of his children to abstain from emulation. Listen carefully saints of God as I define emulation. Emulation is being a competitor, trying to rival, and trying to equal or exceed someone at the same thing. Emulation, which is spelled E. M. U. L. A. T. I. O. N. Is a very grievous sin: it is listed among such sins as adultery, witchcraft, murder. It is a sin that will cause you much pain and suffering in this present world, but in the world to come, in the kingdom to come: emulation will cause those that emulate to lose their inheritance. Reading from the book of Galatians 5:l9 now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulation's, wrath, strife, sedition's, heresies, 2l. Envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Listen carefully saints of God, not long ago I was at church social, and there was a young man sitting close to me, and we were watching some children playing volleyball. And, I said to him, "do you know that competition is against the Christian religion". And, told him of the sin of emulation. And he got up out of his chair and went out and begin playing volleyball with the children. It did not surprise me at all, because I know that the carnal mind is not subject to the laws of God neither indeed can be. Reading from Romans 8:5 for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh: but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit, 6. For to be carnal minded is death: but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. The carnal mind, in my opinion, is the mind of flesh, and blood without the Holy Ghost. But, when a person receives the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost, the inward man the soul comes to life. When the inward man the soul comes to life, the inward man the soul delights in the laws of God. Romans 7:22 for I delight in the law of God after the inward man. Brothers and sisters in Christ, I am persuaded there is no sport, no athletic event that breaks more arms and legs, and other parts of the human body than football. Football is as very violent athletic contest, that teaches young men to be extremely violent. And, we know that God destroyed the first world because of violence. Reading from genesis 6:l2 and God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt: for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. L3. And God said unto noah, the end of all flesh is come before me: for the earth is filled with violence through them. And, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Saints of God, we as Christians are not to be violent people: it is God's will that we live a quiet and peaceful life. Football teaches emulation, and violence, but it also teaches men to covet. Let me define the word "covet ". It is the wrongful desire to possess that which belongs to another. It is the lusting for, yearning for, that which belongs to another. How does football teach men to covet?there are two teams, and one ball: one team has the ball and the other team covets it. They do not mind breaking a man's leg, or his arm to get the ball. In the ten commandments that God gave to moses' the tenth commandment is "thou shalt not covet". Once a man has learned to covet, he may covet a man's wife, or his car, or his money. But we as Christians are not to covet, neither are we to company with men that are covetous. L Corinthians 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: l0. Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters : for then must ye needs go out of the world. Ll. But now I have written unto you not to keep company if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner: with such no not to eat. Beloved football teaches men to emulate, to be violent, teaches men to covet, but it also teaches idolatry. When a football team is successful many times they receive a trophy, a graven image. And, men take these graven images, and place them in a very select place in their homes. Who was it that said, "thou shalt not make unto thy any graven image"? Who was it that said, "little children keep yourselves from idols". To continue Christians brethren, football teaches men to wear numbers proudly, and we know that the antichrist is coming. And all that do not have their names written in the lamb's book of life shall take the mark of the beast, which is a number in their right hand or in their forehead. Reading from the book of revelations. Revelation l3:l6 ( St. John speaking of the antichrist says) and he causeth all both small and great, rich and poor, free, and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their forehead: l7. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. L8. Here is wisdom, let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man and his number is six hundred three score and six. And, beloved, if any man take the mark of the beast, he will surely burn in the lake of fire for ever. Reading from the book of revelation. Revelation l4:9 and the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, if any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, l0. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation: and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the lamb. Holy children it must be a grand feeling to play the game of football with maybe hundred thousand people cheering for you: to run across the goal line and hear the crowd roar. But what price is victory? A broken and bruised body would seemingly be a high enough price, but the price is much higher. Old Satan the devil is after the highest possession that you possess, the soul. Christ Jesus has said these words. St. Matthew l6:26 for what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Saints of God let me recap what I have been saying, I believe that game of football came from the old serpent the devil. It is a game, a athletic event designed to cripple : and make invalid multitudes of men and boys. Football teaches men emulation, it teaches men violence, it teaches men idolatry, it teaches men to wear numbers proudly, all of these things are carefully planned of the devil to send men into the flames of hell. The price of the sin of emulation is very high. Christian men, women, and children are predestinated to inherit eternal life, an immortal body, and be heir and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, in the kingdom of God. But if a man commits the sin of emulation, they shall not inherit the kingdom of God. You may ask me this question, brother mathis if football is such a terrible sin, if it teaches emulation, violence, and teaches men to covet, and teaches men to wear numbers proudly, why do so many men commit this sin?beloved, the root of all evil is: the love of money. If money was taken out of football. If no man could make a dime out of football, I am of the impression that football would be a game of the pass l timothy 6:l0 for the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after. They have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Brothers and sisters in Christ, you may enjoy playing football, and you may enjoy the fame that goes with being a successful player. And you may enjoy the money that the game brings in. But the wages of sin is death, and pay day is coming. If a man sins in ignorance, he can confess that sin, and be cleansed from all unrighteousness. L john l:9 if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Children of light, if a man commits a wilfull sin, after that he comes into the knowledge of the truth, commits a sin with malice aforethought, he does three things: first, he has trodden under foot the son of God, secondly, he counts the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified and unholy thing. Thirdly, he does despite to the spirit of grace. Hebrews l0:26 for if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. 27. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29. Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the spirit of grace?30. For we know him that hath said, vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense saith the lord. And again, the lord shall judge his people. 3l. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Saints of God, you may ask me this question, brother mathis if football is such a terrible sin, why don't other preachers preach against football? figuratively speaking: sports, athletic events, competition, especially football, baseball, boxing, and wrestling, are the sacred cows of this present world. Anyone that criticizes it, evaluates it, attacks it, will most likely be despised and rejected of the men of this world. Even though their own children receive broken bones in these contest. Surely, you parents must know that there is something wrong with these athletic contests, when you see your own children laying hurt, upon the grounds were these contests are played. Come into this knowledge children of God, let the bible, the written word of God groom you to spend eternity with the one that loved you, and gave his life that you may have eternal life. Come now let us reason to gather, there will be no emulation in heaven, there will be no violence in heaven, there will be no idolatry in heaven. Saints of God we are going to a city were there is no prisons, were there is no hospitals for there is no blind, no sick, no cripples there. A city were there is no graveyards for there is no death there. Saints of God, you have been purchased with a great price, not with silver, and gold, but with the precious blood of Jesus. Let me conclude with what I believe is the greatest verse of scripture in the bible. St. John 3:l6 for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.