“We’re Movin’ On Up and Out”

“Movin’ On Up and Out”

Joshua 3:14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), 16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off.

• Adam, (earth, soil)
• Zarethan (piercing or rock- think first and second Adam),
• 1 Corinthinas 15:45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

And the people passed over opposite Jericho. 17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

Intro: (Theme Music Cue: The Jeffersons – “Movin’ On Up”)

“Well we’re movin’ on up, to the east side… To a deluxe apartment in the sky…”

• Life with God isn’t meant to stay small. We were created for expansion — spiritually, emotionally, relationally, and purposefully.
• But so many are stuck. Not because they haven’t grown, but because they’ve grown too comfortable in a limited environment.

Illustration: The Goldfish Principle
“Goldfish grow according to their environment.”

• The myth suggests tank size limits growth.
• The truth? Poor water quality stunts growth.
• In a dirty bowl, even a thriving fish begins to shrink — not from lack of space, but from toxic conditions.

📌 Spiritual Application:

• What got you here won’t get you there.
• Your old level of faith, obedience, routine, and comfort is no longer enough.
• If you stay in the small fishbowl — the place where you’re big, safe, and stagnant — you’ll suffocate.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
— Romans 12:2

I. The Call to Move: “It’s Time for a Bigger Fishbowl”

God doesn’t want us living small. He calls us up and out — to higher ground, deeper faith, greater purpose.

“To move up requires ever-increasing faith.”

God places us in situations bigger than we are — not to fail us, but to force us to trust Him beyond our ability.

“If you want to grow, you can’t keep the big fish in a little pond.”

But when God begins to enlarge your territory, how do you respond?

“Do you resist when God messes with your fishbowl?”

Many fight change — even divine change — because comfort kills spiritually.

🔥 Comfort kills vision.
🔥 Comfort kills urgency.
🔥 Comfort kills faith.

Jesus said:

“No one puts new wine into old wineskins… Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins.”
— Mark 2:22

Your calling demands new containers.

II. The Excuses That Keep Us Stuck

Excuse #1: “What if I don’t know where I’m going?”

❌ Waiting for full clarity before moving.
❌ Waiting for all lights to turn green.
❌ Waiting until the path is completely clear.

However, the Bible is filled with examples that illustrate the truth: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

• You don’t need to see A to Z — you only need to obey from A to B.
• And when you take that step — God honors it.

Joshua 3: The Jordan River

• The waters didn’t part because the people waited on the bank.
• They parted when the priests’ feet touched the water.
• The command was: “Go forward into the flood.”

✅ The miracle happens after obedience, not before.

• Peter walked on water — but only after he stepped out of the boat. — Matthew 14:29

▶ Application:

Get your feet wet.

1. Do what you know.
2. Start where you are.
3. Move in the direction of your calling — even if you don’t know how it ends.

“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor… Then come, follow me.” — Jesus to the rich young ruler (Mark 10:21)

• You don’t need to know the whole plan — just obey the next step.

Excuse #2: “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Many feel unqualified, unprepared, or uncertain.

Answer: Get your hands wet.

Elisha poured water on the hands of Elijah. — 2 Kings 3:11

• Before Elisha became a mighty prophet, he served.
• He wasn’t preaching. He wasn’t leading. He was faithful in the small things.

The Elisha Principle:

• Serve someone else’s vision — as if it were your own.
  As you sow into their calling, God will give you a double portion of anointing for yours.

✅ Ministry is birthed in servanthood.
✅ Leadership is proven in humility.

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant…” — Matthew 20:26

Excuse #3: “It’s not the right time.”

A man tells Jesus:

“Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
Jesus replied: “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” — Luke 9:59–60

Wait.

• His father wasn’t even dead.
• He may have been close to death; the burial process took 2 years!
• He was using exaggerated responsibilities as an excuse to delay obedience.

How many of us say:

• “Lord, I’ll serve — but first, let me finish school.”
• “I’ll give — but first, let me get financially stable.”
• “I’ll lead — but first, let me retire.”
• “I’ll forgive — but first, let me be ready…”

But tomorrow never comes for those who keep saying “but first.”

✴️ Delayed obedience is disobedience.

• Like a stain on the carpet — the longer you wait, the harder it is to remove.

“What I have to do, I must do quickly.” — Jesus (John 12:35)

✅ Be a “now” person.
✅ Obey immediately.
✅ Act in faith, not future belief!

Excuse #4: “I don’t know how.”

You’ll never learn to play piano by reading books.
You have to sit down and try — even if you fail.

Many never step out because they’re afraid of:

• Failure
• Criticism
• Rejection
• Looking foolish

But God uses the willing, not just the skilled.

Even in failure, there is growth, wisdom, and preparation.

The Bible says Christians will hear one day, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
— Not “perfect servant,” not “qualified servant.”
— But faithful.

The richest places in the world are graveyards: Many talents are buried in the grave — not because people lacked potential, but because they feared trying.

🔺 The cemetery is full of books unwritten, songs unsung, dreams unlaunched — all buried by fear.

III. Going Against the Flow

“Water always seeks the path of least resistance.”
So do we — if we’re not careful.

Worldly thinking:

• “Just go with the flow.”
• “Follow what feels easy.”
• “Stay where I’m comfortable.”

But God’s way is upstream.

▶ You will not accidentally fulfill God’s will.
▶ You will not coincidentally walk in purpose.

Purpose requires:

• Intention
• Effort
• Risk
• Obedience

🚫 You weren’t created by accident.
🚫 You’re not a random mutation.
✅ You were designed by God for a divine purpose.

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” — Psalm 139:14

For what? Eating Cheetos and Doritos on the couch?

IV. The Religion vs. Relationship Trap

Many treat God like a transaction:

• “I’ll worship, so You’ll bless me.”
  “I’ll tithe, so You’ll open doors.”
  “I’ll pray, so You’ll fix my problems.”

That’s religion. That’s the 6,000-year-old lie: “I serve so You serve me.”

But true relationship says:

• “I serve because I love You.”
  “I obey because I trust You.”
  “I go because You said so.”

God isn’t a genie.
He’s a Father.

And He doesn’t bless our plans.
We are called to walk in His.

“Not my will, but Yours be done.” — Luke 22:42

V. What About Peace? “I Don’t Feel Peace Yet.”

Many wait for a supernatural sense of peace before stepping out.

But peace follows obedience — it doesn’t always lead it.

✅ Perfect peace comes when your life is pointed in God’s direction.

When you’re off track, God might give you holy dissatisfaction — a divine restlessness.

🔍 This is not depression.
🔍 This is not anxiety.
✅ This is God stirring you to move.

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
— Romans 8:6

Are you bored? Numb? Going through the motions?
That might not be depression —
It might be God saying, “There’s more.”

💡 You were made for purpose, not just routine.

VI. What About My Limitations?

“The only disability in life is a bad attitude.” — Scott Hamilton

But consider Martin Pistorius. Considered brain dead for 12 years. 

For 12 years — locked in his body. Fully aware. Unable to speak or move.
Doctors thought he was gone.
His mother wished he’d die.

But he retrained his mind.
Slowly, movement returned.
He learned to communicate.
Eventually, he graduated, got a job, and got married.

“I’d experienced [faith, hope, and love]… and the greatest of these is love.”

His testimony?

✅ You’re not limited — except in your mind.

Even if you feel:

• Forgotten
• Trapped
• Broken
• Alone

God hasn’t written you off.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13

Conclusion: Your Time is Now

God is saying:

“It’s time to move.”
“It’s time for a bigger bowl.”
“It’s time to grow.”

Stop waiting for:

• Perfect timing
• Perfect clarity
• Perfect ability

Just take the next step.

🔘 Go from A to B.
🔘 Get your feet wet.
🔘 Get your hands wet.
🔘 Obey now.
🔘 Trust God with the rest.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11

You were not created to stay small.

🔼 We’re movin’ on up — to the east side.
🔼 To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
🔼 To the place where faith grows, purpose ignites, and God gets the glory.

Altar Call / Response

👉 Is God calling you to:

• Step out in faith?
• Forgive someone?
• Serve by helping someone else in ministry!
• Start that ministry?
• Leave the comfort zone?
• Serve somewhere unseen?
• Obey what you’ve been delaying?

Then today is the day.

❌ No more “BIG BUTS”
✅ Just “here I am, Lord. Use me.”

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for calling us up and out. Forgive us for loving comfort more than obedience. Stir our hearts with holy dissatisfaction. Give us courage to take the first step — even when we can’t see the second. Renew our minds. Break our fishbowls. Enlarge our territory. We choose faith over fear, obedience over delay, and purpose over comfort. In Jesus’ name, Amen.