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Nearly 60,000 Africans enthusiastically chanted in unison, “Ali bomaye!” which means, “Ali, kill him!” Last night, I watched the documentary, “When We Were Kings,” depicting the story of the historic boxing event commonly known as Rumble in the Jungle. It was a movie that played like a great book, and Muhammad Ali was the ultimate underdog against George Foreman. Athletically, they had little in common but they both shared one vision – to annihilate their opponent in the ring.

Ali had recently been released from prison for refusing to enter the draft. Sport journalists and experts believed he had been out of commission for too long and that a younger, stronger Foreman would indisputably win the fight. In the locker room, the narrator describes Ali’s staff as looking down somberly because in their hearts they had lost faith. He rallied his crew, and out of the cries of hidden fear, they shouted, “Ali bomaye!” with him knowing he didn’t have a chance. But, on October 30, 1974 in Zaire, Muhammad Ali, the loud-mouth arrogant former world champion shocked the world by knocking out the undefeated world Heavyweight champion George Foreman in the eighth round.
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
(Col. 2:15 NIV)
"What in the world does this have to do with Jesus? Muhammad Ali wasn’t even a Christian?”

A Champion’s Strategy
As a believer, you can learn three important things from Ali’s victorious win. First, he knew in his heart that he would win, even though millions of dollars and popular opinion were waged against him because of his size, age, and time out of the ring. But no one had considered the passionate fight of purpose pounding inside his heart. He knew it was his moment. He never lost hope against all odds. You must do the same! The fight is fixed. You’ve already won! Your enemy is already out for the count. 1…2…3…
And there was war in heaven…The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
(Rev. 12:7-9 NIV)
Second, Ali knew his opponent. He studied him. Foreman was a huge and solid athlete, but he was slow. He also expected Ali to “dance” around the ring with his fancy footwork as usual, so he trained to corner Ali as much as possible. Brilliantly, Ali used all of this information against Foreman. In the first round, Ali danced and Foreman reacted. When Foreman’s plan worked, it was all over Ali’s face that his worst nightmare had come true. But in round two, Ali stayed on the ropes and let Foreman pound away, draining all his energy through seven rounds. He was too weak to fight back when Ali came out fiercely in the eighth round! Not even Ali’s coaches knew about his secret strategy – the rope a dope. You have to know your Enemy because he knows you. He will keep accusing you with lies. Pull a rope-a-dope. He expects you to react the same way as you did in the past. Don’t do it.
…For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.’
(Rev. 12:10 NIV)
Last, Ali was unapologetically trash talking Foreman from the months leading up to the fight until the very knock out. It was quite amusing to watch a man be so cocky but to see absolutely nothing wrong with it. He never shut up! He ignored the statistics and his critics. On paper, Foreman was pitted to win, but in Ali’s mind, he had reduced his enemy to a harmless butterfly. This is how you must talk when you are in a fight. You can’t wait to get into the ring to start speaking. You have to do it before the bell rings. Like a prized fighter, you must square your shoulders and stare your enemy dead in the eye, and boldly declare who you are in Christ.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony....
(Rev. 12:11 NIV)
Today, I challenge you to bomaye! Kill the enemy’s voice! Kill his attacks against you in Jesus name! Christ has already made a public spectacle of Satan at the cross. So rejoice and walk in your victory. Ding! Ding!

Copyright Saki Milton
All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Author Biography

Saki Milton
Web site:
 
Saki resides in Charlotte, NC where she is an active member of Elevation Church. Since joining Elevation, she volunteers in the production ministry. Her mission is to help others practically change their lives through an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. In her spare time, she writes inspiring words about everyday life on her blog, Cupasaki.
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