THE PRICE OF PIONEERING
Awaken The Pioneers
Hebrews 12:1–4 (NIV): Therefore, 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, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
"Pioneer" - Archegos - initiator, originator, founder, author, pioneer
* you were created to pioneer
* You are called to challenge the status quo
* You are called to believe in better
Luke 14:25-30 (NLT)
25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’
31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
THE PRICE OF PIONEERING
If you are going to pioneer, you must be willing to pay…
1. THE PRICE OF PREFERENCE
V26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.
The pioneer has only one priority, to finish, which means they’ve surrendered their personal preference
a) This is where the nominal leaves the trail
65% of Americans identify as Christian (Pew Research, 2019)
6% possess a biblical worldview (Barna, 2021)
Many like the idea of Jesus: but few embrace the ideals of Jesus
B) Jesus shares the stage with no one
Preference - great liking of one thing over another
He is Lord of all, or He’s not Lord at all
Question: What personal preferences are standing between you and the pioneer call?
For the pioneer, the CALL MEANS ALL, or it means nothing at all
If you are going to pioneer, you must be willing to pay…
2. THE PRICE OF PERSECUTION
v27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
Pioneers will always be criticized by the complacent, but they find a way to push through the pressures and persecution.
a) This is where the self-centered leave the trail
b) Jesus showed there is no crown without a cross
You will know the measure of your love for Jesus by your desire to do His will
Question:
What selfish parts of your flesh do still wrestle with?
What things do you deeply desire to accomplish?
Are these things a part of God’s will for your life?
Can you surrender them?
If you are going to pioneer, you must be willing to pay…
3. THE PRICE OF PREPARATION
V 28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost.”
The pioneer knows it is his preparation that guarantees his destination
a) This is where the lukewarm leave
Between the promise and the promise-land is a process called preparation
b) Pioneers count the cost
Can you finish what you've started, or will the path prove to be too much?
When you say yes to the pioneer journey, you say yes to going through the trials, tests, and tribulations that are necessary to craft the character of Christ within you
Strength of Character is the staying power of the pioneer. It can’t be taught, it has to be shaped.
Questions:
Consider the cost of fully the following call. What might it cost you? Are you willing to pay the price?
If you are going to pioneer, you must be willing to pay…
4. THE PRICE OF PERSEVERANCE
Perseverance is the way the pioneer's road is paved. There will be days you don’t want to push on, but you pick yourself up and keep going.
a) this is where the weak leave the trail
b) Jesus said, finish what you start
Perseverance is where you find the compound interest in your journey
Expect resistance: The enemy fights those who pose a problem to his kingdom. He would rather fight something in its infancy, than face it in its maturity
Questions:
Consider where you have failed in the past. What caused you to fail in your resolve? What prevents it in the future?
If you are going to pioneer, you must be willing to pay…
5:) THE PRICE OF POSSESSION
Vs 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
The pioneer gives up everything for one thing
a) This is the place the true pioneer is found
There is a blessedness to nothingness
b) Jesus makes it clear that the one thing will always cost you everything
Questions:
What is the dream, what is the call?
On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being not at all surrendered & 10 being fully surrendered, prayerfully rate yourself in your commitment to being fully surrendered to Christ, possessing nothing, fully resolved to Him. Until its a 10, you’re not ready
The Call means ALL! And it’s ALL or Nothing!