Today I want
to look at five pacesetters mindset.
Who is a pacesetter:
- A pacesetter
is a person or a group of people that is considered to be the leaders in a particular field or activity.
- A person or group of people that is the first to do new or different things and so provides an example for others
to follow
Hebrews 12:1-2:
1Therefore,
since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run
with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes
on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith
1 Corinthians 9:24-27:
24 Do
you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?
Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25 Everyone
who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that
will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
26 Therefore
I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer
beating the air.
27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make
it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be
disqualified for the prize.
The pacesetters mindsets includes the following:
1. PACESETTERS RUN FOR THE RIGHT REASON:
- Everyone in the world runs.
- They do it
to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last
forever.
- Some are running
to great financial gain.
- Others are
running toward more power.
- The world is
running to satisfy the lusts of the flesh.
Philippians 3:12-14:
12Not that I
have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press
on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13Brothers, I
do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do:
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14I press on
toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in
Christ Jesus.
One of my favorite quotes is from John Bunyan, “He is no fool who
gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
2. PACESETTERS RUN WITH A PURPOSE:
1 Corinthians 9:26
26Therefore I
do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the
air.
- Do you know
that you have been given everything you need to win your race?
- You have a PURPOSE
– a relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ His Son.
- You have the
POWER
of the Holy Spirit available to you to enable to do everything that God has
called you to.
- You have the
PROMISE
that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
- All these
things – purpose, power and promise are vital and important.
Eph. 3:20-21
20Now to him
who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (promise),
according to his power that is at work within us, (power)
21to him be
glory in the church (purpose) and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
forever and ever! Amen.
- Pacesetters don't run with selfish ambition in mind,
- Pacesetters don't run without direction,
- Pacesetters don't run just because that is what they think they were supposed to do,
If you are
running without purpose you are just running and you may run out of gas before
you get to the finish line.
God never
intended for you to get to that point.
Running
isn’t meant to be difficult. Jesus had this to say in Matthew 11:28-30:
28“Come to me,
all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29Take my yoke
upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will
find rest for your souls.
30For my yoke
is easy and my burden is light.” Did you get that? The race is meant to be easy.
If it isn’t then you probably need to attach yourself to Jesus’ yoke and not
try to do it all on your own
3. PACESETTERS RUN ACCORDING TO THE RULES.
4. PACESETTERS RUN UNDER SUBMISSION:
1 Corinthians 9:27
27No, I beat
my body and make it my slave…
Now I want
you to understand something – this verse does not promote abusing your body in
order to somehow draw you closer to God.
5. PACESETTERS ARE WILLING TO TRAIN:
25Everyone who
competes in the games goes into strict training.