Diving into the Deep End

Story time

(Say this) Growing up I was fascinated with water. Whether it was the ocean , a pool, or a lake you would find me there swimming and the last one in. Growing up most of my family even called me a fish because just how much I loved the water. There was just something about it, the feeling that you could swim and not feel any weight, have no worries, and just enjoy. Once I got into high school I decided that it was time to do something with what I loved, so I decided to join the swim team. During being on the swim team and yes I had to wear a speedo but more importantly I had to replace swimming for fun , for swimming for competition and because of this I had to learn everything I could to learn how to dive into the deep end.

(Pause)

Today I want to teach you how to dive into the deep end into your relationship with the Father.

(Pause)

If your wondering how I am going to do this I am going to compare diving into your relationship with the Father, with how I prepared and accomplished a race during my time on the high school swim team.

Slide #1: Step 1-Preparing for the race

Say this: Its loud people are speaking on the bleachers the other teammates and opponents not swimming are talking about their own races and as you anticipate your race you are finally called. (Act as though your speaking into the speaker phone) “ 500 free style will be our next event please swimmers get into position”. As your preparing to dive around you are five other people you are racing against. As much as you don’t want to notice the other swimmers you look around to see your competition. You refocus and tell yourself you can do this, that you have prepared for this, and the only competition you are going against is yourself.

Slide #2:

Matthew 7:3–5 NIV

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Say this: The number one mistake you can make just as in a swim meet is to compare or judge your brother or sister’s on their race with the Father and lose focus of your own. I remember countless times where it was right before a swim race and the minute I thought about who i was going against and who was around me I lost my focus and it resulted in my swim being affected badly.

Slide #3:

The quality of your dive into a deeper relationship with the Father is determined by you ability to stay focused on your own race from the very beginning.

(Explain how often brothers and sisters in Christ can compare but not focus on their own journey with the Father and because of this they often have difficulty moving passed the starting line)

Slide #4: Step 2- Getting on the Diving Board

Say this: After you have refocused on your own lane you stand up on the small white square, you remember the words of your coach “foot placing is everything” , you align them right and you look on unto the pool that seems endless in the moment. You keep in control as you don’t want to lose your foot placing and lose your balance from the foundation you will launch off.

Slide #5:

Matthew 7:24–27 NIV

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Say this: The foundation, that little white square, was the basis by which the whole race could be based off. In preparation for the dive into deeper relationship with the father you must make sure that your foundation is on the rock and not the sand because if you don’t have a a good foundation you will lose balance and not dive deep into relationship with the father, it will only be surface level

(Explain how different foundations will make you lose focus, drugs , jealousy, hatred, etc. )

Slide #6: Step 3- Getting into Position

(Say this )

You planted your feet correctly on the board now the race is about to begin, you bend down and get into position, your feet and hands in the perfect position and you lean forward to force a smooth glide into the water. Your heart pumps loudly as you wait patiently anticipating the buzzer to begin the race then suddenly in between breathes you hear the buzzer (baaaaaa)

Slide #7:

Proverbs 16:9 NIV

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

(Say this) In a swim race timing is everything. If you go to early you are disqualified but if you go to late you risk losing by just the mere seconds you missed by not diving on time. You must remember the Lord has already establish your steps he knows when your ready dive and he knows when you need to wait patiently to be planted on the foundation correctly, you have to trust the buzzer , you have to trust the father and his timing (Say slowly) when he tells you to go

Slide #8: Step 4 - The Dive and the race

( Say this): You dive into the crystal blue water gliding without resistance. The race has begun. Now you must remember to stick to the technique you’ve learned. You dive through the water for five seconds without moving a muscle. You then come to the surface of the water and begin to propel forward with your arms doing a smooth motion, your legs fluttering up and down. As you make your way to the other side of the pool you take breathes timed perfectly, you are now in the last stretch. With all your might you pull on the heaviness of the water with your arms again taking perfectly time breathes and as you feel the tiredness settle in you push harder and finally you have made it , you have won the race.

Slide #9: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 NIV

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. 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. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 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.

(Say this) Knowing the prize that lays at the end of the race makes the race not easier but more sustainable to make it to the finish line. The father is the prize and you must know the prize before you can acquire it. If you don’t know the prize then what are you racing for?

Conclusion: (Say this)

Now I ask are you ready to take the dive into deep relationship with the Lord? If you are then

Prepare yourself, set yourself focused in your own lane, on your own relationship with the Father. Step up to the dive board get your feet planted on the only foundation that that will keep you balanced in the race of life, Jesus. Then when the Lord says you are ready take your dive into the deep end, begin the race knowing that the father is the prize that is acquired at the other side. Lastly know that the prize will not be easily acquired it requires that you know him from his word, that it will take dedication, and call you to live in sacrificial living.