God's Man | Sharing Your Lane...

 This is part 1 of my notes from my last sermon, Sharing Your Lane.  This was part of the I Believe In You Series at my church.  You can watch the video here.

I never wanted to be that guy but you know how things go.You put something off...You hem and haw...Before you know it the year is over and you say, "Well the new year is coming so I am going to make this a top priority after Jan 1st...There is nothing wrong with that...  Lots of folks make resolutions.  I have made them.  I am sure you have as well.For me I never wanted to be make this resolution.  The dreaded join the gym resolution.  The resolution by itself is no big deal.  I think being fit is important, my stomach not withstanding,  biblical even.  That is why I was the fat guy running the triathlon last year and again this year.The issue is joining a gym at the beginning of the year is sooooo cliche.  So cliche in fact that the folks at the gym have terms, depending on the gym, for the influx of new people they receive at the beginning of the year.  If you have never experienced the gym parking lot at the beginning of the year it is a site to see.  It rivals any pre-Christmas mall lot.Anyway... To keep this on track...  There I was at the gym the day after New Years.  I had decided to swim and was doing my laps in the pool.  It was an easy swim.  I wasn't pushing myself even though there were some determined swimmers around me.  I was comfortable...  I was even a little bored.Well with all the newbies, me included at this gym, there were people coming in to swim and soon the lanes were starting to double up.  I was safe though, for some reason, until the dreaded question came.Can I share your lane?  Of course, I said.Reasons For "Sharing Your Lane"Last week Pastor Paul shared how important it is think generation-ally.  That we need t be looking at those who will come after us.He mentioned the importance of a Supporting Environment...He talked about Raising Expectations...He even mentioned the importance of Keeping It Real...God has a Multi-generational Vision and so should we.  If you don't believe me than take a look at the genealogies.  Genesis, Matthew, Numbers...And don't just think about "your" generations.  There are many lines that will be represented in God's Family.This passage comes at the end of an exchange between Jesus and a Father who was seeking Healing for his Son.  Verse 22 reads,       “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But IF YOU CAN do anything, take pity on us and help us.” (Mark 9:22 NIV84)The Flagship Scripture for this series is taken from Mark 9:23       “If you can?", Jesus replied,  "Everything is possible for one who believes.”Today's message is talking about our Attitude in how we walk together with each other.Why do we have to do this?  I am walking with Christ so Why do I need to walk with any of ya'll?  The perfect answer to this is because it is what Christ did.  That should get the yes and Amen and we should close it out.  I know however that we sometimes need something more.Back to the pool.  When I was swimming alone I was going at an easy pace.  It wasn't always straight.  Wasn't always clean.  The first thing that sharing your lane does is IMPROVE YOUR FORM.Proverbs make this clear in chapter 27 verse 17,  As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17 NIV84)I had to straighten up when someone was going through the lane with me.  I didn't want to collide and neither did he.The next thing is that my slow pace evaporated.  I no longer wanted to just get my laps in.  I wanted to meet him at the middle of the lane.  I wanted us to be on the same pace.  1 Corinthians 9 talks about running your race to win.  You can't do that without someone else lining up next to you at the starting line.  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. (1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV84)The last thing that I will mention about sharing your lane is that it automatically creates relationship.  Being in the water with someone that close immediately creates rapport.  That got me thinking about this verse from Amos 3:3, "Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?" (Amos 3:3 NIV84)  There is a serious agreement that is struck when you begin to share your lane with some one.