Shifting

“Shifting”
by Pastor Earl McLellan
September 20, 2020

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 

So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’” But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’ Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

• Joshua 1:1-15 (NIV)

Sometimes God allows situations that bring a shift to our circumstances, either through change or transformation. We shift when we change, exchange, move, transfer, or transform. It can be hard to make that shift when things are going well, and we are successful. Oftentimes, our mindset is: why change when things are going well? 

Sometimes we are successful at doing the wrong things, for example, living like a victim of circumstances. It can be comfortable because it’s familiar, but courage can bring about change that transforms a victim's life into victory. We often like what we are familiar with and are hesitant to follow God to a place of discomfort. In order for us to shift into the new person and the new season that God is trying to produce, here’s what we need to know:  

1. Anytime God is trying to grow you, prepare for him to cut you. 

We should prepare for God to get rid of things with which we have become accustomed. God operates as a gardener, cutting every branch that does not bear fruit (John 15:1-2). Moses asked for wisdom, and God used him to lead the Israelites through the desert. He made mistakes, but he was successful because he shifted with God when a change was necessary. When Moses died, Joshua was needed to step into the role of a leader, instead of second-in-command (Joshua 1:1). Joshua was called upon to lead God’s people into the promised land. This was a big shift for him. Similarly for us, going from being single to being married is a huge shift. Starting to lead in the church is a big responsibility. The shift means that we are representing something greater than ourselves. 

2. He will--not might, but will. 

God commands Joshua not to be afraid because he will be with him (Joshua 1:9). Joshua then delegates to his officers to tell the people that they will cross the Jordan (Joshua 1:10-11). The verse does not say “might;” it says “will”. We must know that we will walk into the promises that God has for us. God can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask, think, or imagine, and we can trust him to be true to his word (Ephesians 3:20).

3. Get used to living in tension. 

There are some things that God has for us, but we do not have them yet. He has already given and provided even though we can’t see it. There is no need to try to get rid of this tension; instead, we should navigate it as part of our journey. It is part of the process of our transformation. There is tension in the fact that God loves you exactly the way you are, but he also wants to change and transform us into whom he’s called us to be. We have to get used to living in the tension. 

4. We must get ready for battle. 

We get to choose: are we going to be the type of church that is just content with the blessing God has given us, or will we go on ahead of those who have not yet received the blessing and fight on their behalf? Are we ready for a fight--not with other people, but for them? 

We must pray until the world understands the Lord’s love for them. We are to fight until sexism, racism, economic justice and violence have been torn down. We are to keep on fighting, praising, and praying until heaven comes to earth. 

We are to go ahead and say, “this land can be yours.” This is what Jesus did for us. Jesus entered into our world, he goes ahead for every one of us, fighting sin, hell, and the grave for us. Now he is seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. If we are to be followers of Jesus, this is what we are called to do. 

Reflection/Discussion Questions:

1. Do you fear what God is doing when he shifts your circumstances to bring about change?

2. Who in your life who helped you when God shifted circumstances in your life?

3. Are you comfortable helping others learn to follow God and align themselves with him during seasons of change?

4. How do you feel called to fight for others in this season?