KILLING MEDIOCRE

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Mediocre as "of moderate or low quality, ordinary"

Now I don't know about you, bur I REFUSE TO BE MEDIOCRE!

I want to be a GREAT, HIGH QUALITY, EXTRAORDINARY!

But still yet, MEDIOCRITY seems to pervade our Christian culture!

What do you think leads to mediocrity??

Fear of Failure?

Obstacles that seem too high?

Not understanding our current position?

When you think you know all you need to know, mediocrity ensures!

THE GOAL

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect...

Philippians 3:12 ESV

The goal of every Christian must be to become more and more like Christ every day.

Rom 8:29- ... to be conformed to the likeness of Christ.

To accept Christ is only the beginning. If we don't grow any from there then we settle for mediocrity. And that is not acceptable!

It is an intense sense of purpose that drives people to be greater.

Why?

To Glorify God

I am called to

You are called to a great MISSION

To accomplish it you must have:

1. UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR CURRENT POSITION

2. BELIEF IN YOUR POTENTIAL

3. PASSION TO CHASE

4. FOCUS ON THE PRIZE

5. STRATEGY or a PLAN

6. TACTICS or a PATTERN

Understand this purpose and your true purpose will become evident!!

Phil 3:12-17

1. UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION (12).

Paul said, "I haven't obtained it..."- lambano. I haven't grabbed it yet.

I am "Not perfect"- teleioo. This means I haven't reached the finish. I am a work in progress.

We must UNDERSTAND our current position. You are not in the condition you need to be. Your spot is locked in but you should have a DESIRE to continue to work. We should actually feel a sense of dissatisfaction with where we are and a desire to grow!

You are a work in progress (Romans 7).

Verse 13, I am not there! katalambano

I qualified for the Boston Marathon The first time by running a certain time in the Chicago Marathon. My SPOT was guaranteed. But I didn't want to show up in Boston out of shape. I wanted to be in the best shape of my life. So I worked hard everyday towards that goal. That is what Paul is describing here. As soon as we become satisfied with where we are in our growth, we guarantee MEDIOCRITY. UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO GROW!!

2. BELIEVE IN YOUR POTENTIAL

You are a masterpiece! Ephesians 2:10

I believe the #1 reason there are so many MEDIOCRE Christians is not because it is so hard, it is because we don't UNDERSTAND the POTENTIAL we have!!

3. PASSION TO CHASE (12).

In this passage the Greek word Dioko is used twice, verse 12 and 14. This word describes someone chasing after something aggressively. Could be a hunter chasing prey or a runner in a race. But it reveals a great desire to attain the goal. It is a relentless pursuit. For this to occur, the hunter must have a powerful REASON to chase with such effort! We often don't see the REASON to grow. The real reason is to become more like Christ and fulfill the purpose God created us for.

4. FOCUS ON THE PRIZE (13-14).

We are guilty of making life to complex. When we make it complex we dilute out the real reason we strive. Paul said, I have broken it down to ONE THING, PURSUING Christ! At all costs!

Paul understood the need. He had the desire to chase the goal. And with a singular focus he chased with all he had!

He FORGOT what was in the past (13), to overlook or not notice, and focus on the road ahead!

FORGET and MOVE ON!

So how do we develope this type of FOCUS?

It requires DEDICATION to the purpose! DEDICATION....FOCUS

Verse 14... there is ONE THING I do! This is uncommon focus like described in Heb 12:1.

To begin to develop this type of FOCUS requires STRATEGY & TACTICS!

5. STRATEGY (PLAN)

Verse 15 says, "Have this mind". "THINK this way". In order to grow we have to think. And EXAMINE because God will reveal to us. The Strategy is the basis of the plan of how we live to chase the goal. PURSUIT.

To be mature- teleios, to teach a completion.

God will reveal (apokakyto) or uncover what is hidden. So the strategy should be a close examination.

To walk in line - stoicho.

How do we walk in line?

The power of a routine:

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Daniel 6:10

And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, Acts 17:2

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. Luke 4:16

Your first hour of your day sets the trajectory of the whole day.

Starting your day with God sets your mind on higher kingdom matters!

Putting yourself in a positive mood to start the day will improve performance and creativity.

Experiment from Northwestern Univ. The subjects in the positive mood group were more likely to solve challenging problems with creative insight. They demonstrated increased activity in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex. Pg 128 of Peak Performance.

6. TACTICS (PATERN)

"Imitate me" - summinate - to be a fellow imitator, and "Walk in step" Verse 17. These are the tactics we develope.

We must develop a routine to create focus in our chase.

A tupos or ROUTINE! A model forged by repetition! A reliable precedent for others to follow.

Do you have a morning routine?

If not your chances of MEDICORE just went up!

If you show up with the same routine. God will show up too. He will actually always be there but the routine gets you ready to hear him!

A FRAMEWORK:

PRIME YOUR LIFE!

Pray

Acts 2:43 ...they devoted themselves to prayer.

Mark 1:35...rising early in the morning...he went out and prayed.

Psalm 119:147...I rise before dawn and I cry for help.

Read

Joshua 1:7 be careful to do according to all the law.

2 Tim 3:15 the sacred writings are able to make you wise for salvation.

Intention

Joshua 1:6, 7, 9 Be STONG AND COURAGEOUS

Colossians 3:2 Set your mind

Meditate

Joshua 1:8 meditate on it day and night.

Psalm 119:148 my eyes are awake that I may meditate on your promise.

Execute.

Joshua 1:2 Moses is dead, arise and GO.

Acts 2:45-47 the actions of the early church

Faith without ACTION is dead

MY ROUTINE:

BE SURE MY POWER'S MAXIMIZED

Breathe...A way to set my intention!

then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

Genesis 2:7 ESV

It was the BREATH of God that have us life. And with every BREATH or focus should be on God.

2 Tim 3:12 Scripture is God breathed.

Scripture

Meditate

Prayer

Move

I want to CRUSH MEDIOCRE!!!

To do this, i must be a WIP-WIT

I AM A WORK IN PROGRESS DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES!!

ARE YOU WILLING TO BE A WIP-WIT!!

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