Divine Shift: Think Different

 

Divine Shift – Sermon Notes Pastor Brad Myers

Think Different September 29, 2024

Church is not just a place where we go, but it is who we are!

Divine Shift: chronos to kairos to Pleroo (fullness of that event)

Joshua 1: The Israelites were about to go through one of the greatest shifts in history.

If we can remember the strategies God gave them, during our own transition times, that knowledge will greatly assist us in experiencing the fullness.

1. Think Different About Your Responsibility

God will do what only He can do, but we must do what He expects us to do. God doesn’t need us, He wants us!

It is dangerous to believe that God will make sure we get to fullness, no matter what we do.

• Israelites who perished in the wilderness proved fullness is not guaranteed.

Chapter 1 of Joshua marks the transition of Israel moving into their kairos season.

One of the greatest individual shifts in human history!

• Israel moving in a Kairos season

Joshua 1:2 (NIV)

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.

• NOT just announcing to Joshua Moses was dead.
• God was announcing a shift: “It’s your time now.
• You have been trained and equipped; now you are the one,
• Joshua. It’s your turn. Time to accept the responsibility!
• Time Lead the lead people.”

“I am about to give to them”

• Implied responsibility
• Translated from Hebrew “Nathan” (more than just to give)
• Give as an assignment
• Your gifts are assignments from God

Genesis 12:7a (NLT)

• I am ‘assigning’ this land to you.”
• They would have to go and possess it to fulfill the assignment.

We must not only accept assignments from God but move responsibly through them to reach the fullness of them.

2. Think Different About Moving in Great Faith

During times of divine shifting more faith is required than normal chronos (chronological) time.

Joshua 1:2 (NIV)

• Not normal river…

Joshua 3:15 (NIV)

• Impassable! Impossible situation.
• Great Faith now needed! BUT GOD FAITH!

We will have to believe that God is going to come through and do His part – the impossible – to get us to where we need to be.

Seasons of maintaining do require patience but may not necessitate a great amount of faith. But when God says it’s time to move forward, there will be steps of faith required on our part. We must move in great faith.

3. Think Different About Being Very Flexible

Joshua 1:11 (NKJV)

• 40 years now three days notice!
• The shifts of God can come suddenly.
• Sometimes God just doesn’t want us to have a lot of time to think about it.
• Paralysis of Analysis…

We envision how things should happen but God most may ask us to do it differently so we must be very flexible.

4. Think Different About the Basics 

When Joshua was about to lead this generation of Israelites into their fullness, God put great emphasis on His Word.

Joshua 1: 8 (NIV)

• God emphasized the basics!

It is not the great, deep revelations of truth that keep us. It isn’t our ability to memorize 400 Scriptures in one sitting. It is the basics that keep us during times of transition. Focus on the Word, spend time with God, Fellowship with believers, Keep in prayer! These are the basics we must do!

• Bible Essentials Class

5. Think Different About Past Promises

Joshua 1:6

• God called Joshua back to the promise He had made to Abraham.
• It’s imperative we think about what God has spoken to us in the past.

1 Timothy 1:18 (NIV)

• Use previous promise as your weapon!
• Let your past affirmations sustain your faith.

This also served to bring Joshua an important perspective: What was about to happen wasn’t only about them, but it was also about Abraham and others before them and future generations to come.

A divine shift in your life will affect others as well!

6. Think Different About Complete Obedience

• Sounds so obvious
• “References to Command” used 8 times in the first chapter of Joshua.

Example: God commanded Joshua; Joshua commanded the leaders; the leaders commanded the people and God referred to what He had previously commanded.

• “be careful to do” & “obey” or “obeyed.” used twice each.
• Concept of obedience seen 12 times in these verses.

God knows how things must be done, and it is essential that we do it His way.

7. Think Different About The Battles You Will Fight!

Thought: The fact that we’ve move from chronos into kairos, and perhaps even close to fullness doesn’t mean the struggle is finished.

The closer you get to victory the fiercer the battle becomes.

“I can’t take much more means you are almost there!”

Joshua 1:3 (NKJV)

• Tread: Hebrew “Darak”
• Means: A warriors march!
• Means: “To bend the bow” Ready to shoot the arrow!

This Hebrew word is still used today in Israel for the command, “Load your weapons.” God wasn’t telling Israel that everywhere they walked or stepped was theirs. He had already marked off the perimeters of the inheritance. He was saying symbolically, “Every place that you are willing to load your weapons and take, I’m going to give to you.”

• God was telling Joshua that there would be a battle.

Destiny is always contested, and we must realize that the devil will always try to steal our destiny from us.

John 10:10 (NIV)

8. Think Differently About Your Need for Help

In Joshua 1:12-18

• God mentions the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh,
• Given an inheritance on the east side of the Jordan.
• Moses told them they would still need to go and help their brothers take their inheritance.
• Joshua reminds them of that.

In order to stand together we must fight together.

• Not called to go it alone!

9. Think Differently About Peace

Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

• “dismayed” Hebrew chathath, to crack or break.
• God saying to Joshua, “This transition into your kairos stage and toward fullness will be stressful. There will be unexpected challenges, difficulties and warfare.
• BUT, while under the pressure of leading don’t crack under the stress.

Colossians 3:15 (ESV)

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

• “let”

We must allow the peace of God to rule. We have a choice.