NOTES: STAY IN YOUR LANE

SCRIPTURE READING:
Ephesians 2:10 ‘For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.’ Berean Standard Bible

Introduction:
– Each of our lives is far more than mere existence.
– For you to be born, thousands of different aspects had to come together over hundreds of years.
– Just think of the miracle of your existence: For you to be born, you needed 4,094 predecessors over the last four hundred years. Just think about it: all the struggles, all the challenges, all the difficulties, all the mistakes, all the sadness and all the joys. Those who went before you had to experience all of this to bring about the conditions so that you could be here at this time in history. If even just one aspect had not happened, or turned out differently, you would not be here. But here you are! If you think that this myriad of things that needed to fall in place for you to be born was simply something that happened by default, that is to underestimate the wonder of life.
– You are here and alive at this time by the very design of God, and His workmanship (His divine hand of providence) is written all over your life and down through the ages of time.
– You are unique in every way, the result of innumerable and untold things that came together in God’s remarkable plan.
– It reminds me of my own mother’s story: she was born into a poor family and was one of five daughters. The sister born just ahead of her had died at the age of two from meningitis. Her parents never got over this loss. My mother was born into this environment of extreme sadness, the replacement daughter who could never replace the one that was lost. Yet God knew that He would use my mother to touch the lives of many people, especially women. She would remind them of how God loved them and how He wanted to use them, and who they were in Christ. She developed a series of books for Bible study purposes called KINGDOM WOMEN and many were helped and strengthened as a result.
– Ephesians 2:10 ‘For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.’
– The result of the coming together of our lives through our unique history and circumstances, sets us up to be used by God to do something (good works). In fact the Lord has prepared things that only you can do and He has done this in advance through the specific set of life circumstances you were subjected to, and the unique process or treatment that brought you to this point. This special gift that you bring to the world should become your way of life.
– Each one of us has a specific calling and purpose from God.
– When we operate in that calling, we experience fulfilment and effectiveness.
– However, many get distracted, compare themselves to others, or take on things they were never meant to do.
– True success comes from staying in the lane God has set before us.
– God has uniquely designed and equipped each of us for His purpose.

1. KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE CALLED TO DO
– God has a plan and a purpose for every person’s life.
– When I was a child my mother would tell me the story of Joseph and the route he had to pass through to get to God’s final destination for his life. She would tell me that although Joseph did not understand why he had to go through certain things, those things were all part of the blueprint of God for his life. A blueprint is a copy of a map, or a drawing or a plan of something still to be developed.
– Although, while we are going through the issues of life, we may not be able to see the sense in everything, God is at work.
– Our stumbling block may become our stepping stone. Seemingly unnecessary obstacles or setbacks in life can actually bring change and transformation, opening up a door of opportunity. These very things can make our lives of value to God and to others. Out of our misery can come our ministry.
– Discovering your calling requires seeking God through prayer and His Word.
– Years ago I attended a sermon by Dr Myles Munroe. He was speaking on the subject of purpose. He encouraged us to read God’s Word. He said that as we did this we would find that we identify with certain thoughts and ideas. He mentioned that these very things, that we identified, would be indicators of purpose and would help us to discover what we are called to do. I did this and every time I came to a verse about encouraging people, strengthening people, giving hope to people, helping to repair the breach that had developed between them and the Lord, I would say – This is me, I can, and I must do this.
– Often, our calling aligns with the gifts and passions God has placed in us. It was in my very nature to be an encourager.
– The Holy Spirit guides and confirms our calling as we walk in faith.
– It is not about what seems impressive, but about what God has assigned to us.
– Obedience to God’s calling leads to peace and purpose.
– Jonah ran from his calling and faced turmoil, but when he obeyed, he saw God’s power at work.

2. STAYING IN YOUR LANE
– My lane, my purpose and my calling was simply to encourage people with the Word of God which is alive and powerful. For you it may well be completely different.
– As I busied myself with being an encourager, people would come to me and tell me that I should do something different. Some felt I should move away from encouraging people and start to teach them. Others felt I should not just encourage people but I should tell them that every blessing was conditional on their behaviour. Sometimes I could see their point, but I would remind myself of my calling and that I should ‘stay in your lane’ because God would call others to fulfil other parts of the big picture.
– When I was doing what God had called me to do, I discovered that was when I was most happy and felt the most fulfilled.
– It is easy to look at others and feel the pressure to do what they are doing.
– Comparison leads to distraction and discouragement.
– 1 Corinthians 12:12 ‘For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.’
– Just as each part of the body has a function, each person has a unique role.
– Running someone else’s race leads to frustration and ineffectiveness.
– Focus on what God has given you to do, and trust that it is enough

3. AVOIDING DISTRACTIONS
– The enemy often uses distractions to try and pull us away from our calling.
– I grew up as the son of a pastor. My father ran a wonderful church that had 6500 members at the time of his passing. The Lord had allowed this church to grow and become an influence in our country. My father’s calling was to help people in their pursuit of God and His precious Holy Spirit. He loved the local church and to be able to work with and encourage other pastors in the work of the ministry.
One day a colleague of my father’s, who was running a very successful church in another part of the province, decided to leave the ministry and become a travelling evangelist. He suggested to my father that it was time for him (my father) to step into a bigger calling and leave the local church. But my father was resolute and said that his calling was the local church and the work he was doing.
On another occasion, another pastor who had stepped into international itinerant ministry also came to speak to my dad. He told my dad that he was too big for the local church and besides there was much more money in itinerating internationally. Again my father was not going to be distracted. He would stick to his calling however humble or insignificant others thought it was.
The end result was that both these other individuals marriages ended in divorce and their ministries never regained their original proportions.
– Luke 10:41-42: Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.’
– Distractions can be good things that are not the right things.
– Staying close to God helps us discern on what we should focus.
– Time spent with God in prayer and His Word keeps us grounded.
– Not all redirections are distractions – sometimes, God shifts our course. That is a different matter completely, as long as it is not beyond or outside of our calling.

4. AVOIDING BURNOUT BY OPERATING IN YOUR CALLING
– As we operate in our calling, there is grace, strength and an ease of functioning.
– I’m called to encourage people. It comes naturally to me. It is the easiest thing for me to do. It invigorates me, it gives me joy and when I am done, I am not tired and worn out, but I am strengthened and empowered. However, when I try to operate outside of that, it seems to drain me and leave me feeling weak and sometimes discouraged.
There was a season in our church when meetings became the order of the day. It felt like we were having meetings morning, night and day. In fact there was a joke that was going around that all we needed at this church is another meeting! We seemed to get into ‘meeting mode.’ I was not built for perpetual meetings. Meetings seemed tiresome – the more we met the less things seemed to change, except in the minutes. I would come home from these multiple meetings and fall asleep on the couch. I realise that meetings do play a role, but if they are not moving you rapidly towards your calling, you will get burnt out.
– Isaiah 40:31 ‘Those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.’
– Burnout happens when we try to do things outside of our calling and God’s leading.
– God’s assignments and calling come with His provision and enabling power.
– Regular rest and reliance on God also assists in sustaining us in our calling.

5. THE BLESSING OF FOCUS AND FAITHFULNESS
– When we focus on our calling, we can look forward to fruitfulness in our lives.
– John 15:5 ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.’
– A little can become much with a touch of the Master’s hand.
– We can plant a seed and reap a great harvest, which is God’s pattern for our lives.
– I believe that when we are operating in our calling and purpose we can put a little in and reap a lot. On the other hand, when we operate outside of this, we can often plant a lot and reap very little.
– John 15:16 ‘You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will remain.’
– Let us do what God chose for us to do and what He appointed us to do.
– Another aspect is the reward that comes with continued faithfulness to our calling.
– In the Living Bible, Hebrews 12:1 says, ‘let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.’
– Faithfulness in the small things leads to greater things. God rewards those who are diligent and consistent in their calling. A life of persistent obedience brings peace, joy, and fulfilment.

Conclusion:
– God has a unique calling for each of us.
– Ephesians 2:10 ‘For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus [ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].’ Amplified Bible
– Staying in our lane leads to effectiveness, fulfilment, and divine provision.
– By seeking God, avoiding distractions, and trusting His plan, we can walk confidently in our calling.
– Hebrews 12:1 ‘Let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us.’
– As we run our particular race, sometimes God will allow us to go through things that seem hard at the time. This is to prepare us for what His plans are for our lives.
– QUOTE: By Oswald Chambers: ‘If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others.’
– Joseph remained faithful to his calling, even in the most difficult circumstances.
– Genesis 39:21-22 ‘The LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison.’
– Despite being falsely accused and imprisoned, Joseph continued to walk in integrity and use his God-given gifts.
– His faithfulness in that season prepared him for the greater calling of leading Egypt.
– Staying in our calling, even when circumstances seem unfair, leads to God’s appointed promotion.
– Let us remain faithful and focused, knowing that God’s plan is the best plan for our lives. YOUR STORY ISN’T FINISHED YET!

By Pastor Andrew W. Roebert
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