Bust A Move
Pt. 2 - Move Now
I. Introduction
At the first of a new year we begin to think about change, new habits, new patterns, new practices in hopes of seeing new results. We make resolutions about weight, work, wealth, relationships, recreation and more. If we could summarize or characterize our goals it could be done so with the word "movement." We desire and determine to make a move.
Movement is defined as "a series of organized activities working toward an objective." So, we started by saying we need to move over. Last week I challenged you to move on because you can't move to next if you are hung up on a previous issue. Movement is essential if we are going to reach our objective which to become more like Jesus, grow spiritually, mature, fulfill His purpose in our life, you fill in the blank ___________________. This leads me to another challenge that I must lay at your feet. I want to challenge us to Move Now!
I don't know if you have experienced it yet. Those of us in the room over 40 surely will attest to this phenomenon. Time flies. You wake up on January 2nd and before you blink it is January 2nd again. The issue here is not that time is moving faster it is that we have become professional procrastinators in our spiritual life.
There are hundreds of Scriptural illustrations of moving now that I could point you to. However, I just want to read one and mention others in passing.
Luke 18:35-43 (TPT)
As Jesus and his followers arrived at Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting by the roadside. When he heard the crowd approaching, he asked, “What’s all this commotion about?” “It’s Jesus!” they said. “Jesus the Nazarene is passing by.” The blind beggar shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity and show me mercy!” Those in the front of the crowd scolded him and warned him to be quiet, but the blind beggar screamed out even louder, “Jesus, Son of David, show me mercy!” Suddenly Jesus stopped and directed those nearby, “Bring the man over to me.” When they brought him before Jesus, he asked the man, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Master,” he said, “please, I want to see.” Jesus said, “Now you will see. Receive your sight this moment, for your faith in me has given you sight and new life.” Instantly he could see again. His eyes popped open, and he saw Jesus standing in front of him! He shouted loud praises to God and he followed Jesus. And when the crowd saw what happened, they too erupted with shouts of praise to God.
If you go read the same account in Mark 10, he gives us a little more information and says that Jesus enters Jericho but there is no mention of a blind man being on the road. However, Mark says later as Jesus is leaving Jericho the blind man is there. I can’t prove that Jesus enters and exits Jericho the same way, but if He did, then the blind man has made a move to get to where Jesus is going to pass. I want you to think about the implications of this account. A blind man receives his sight because he is willing to make move. But if that move wasn’t enough there is another move made. What if the blind man had succumbed to the pressure to be quiet? What if the blind man accepted his plight? What if the blind man squelched the desperation to fit in? I submit to you that his willingness to move at the moment Jesus was within hearing range is essential and paramount in this story. If he had waited a minute, an hour, a week, a month, then he would have missed his opportunity for healing! He makes a move to position and he makes a move to plead!
What are you missing because you are unwilling to move now? What are you missing because you aren’t not in position when Jesus passes by? What are missing because you have become so comfortable with your situation that you won’t plead your case?
Desperation has an expiration date! You must respond on time and in time.
You need to know three things.
Delay destroys desperation.
Spiritual hesitation destroys spiritual hunger. There is an expiration date on our desperation! Because of the focus of a new year or the distaste left by the old year we long for something more and something new. However, if we wait too long to make a move then we naturally fill the void we have with something else. We naturally allow cheap substitutes to distract or dull our desperation until we sit and die. We have a tendency to slip back into patterns, mediocrity, and the less than levels that we have become comfortable with. We must move now. We must move now. We must move now. We must capitalize on hunger now. We must allow the desperation to grow rather than allowing it to be drowned out. Move now! That is why if at the first of the year you feel inclined towards spiritual growth, then don't delay. If you are aware of your need for Jesus, then don't delay. Today is the day of salvation! If you are fed up, then bust a move. Make a move now.
Delay is deadly.
What if the disciples hadn't cried out to Jesus when they struggling in the boat in the storm? The text says Jesus was going to pass them by, but their cries stopped Him. They would possibly of have sunk.
What if the woman with the issue of blood hadn't pushed through the crowd to touch Jesus the day He was in her hometown? She would have died sick.
What if Peter hadn't stepped out of the boat at Jesus' command to walk on water? What if he decided to try it six weeks later? He would have drowned.
Delay is deadly. If you delay, then you will quiet down into sightlessness. If you delay, then you will sink into struggle. If you delay, then you will bleed into bondage. If you delay, then you will remain safely in the boat of sameness.
Move on your dream now. Move on your education now. Move to a budget now. Move to break your addiction now. Move to take the steps to heal relationship now. Don't delay!
It has been said that the devil is in the details. I beg to differ. The devil is in delay. If he can convince you to put off your desperate pursuit of Jesus and His will for your life, then he will defeat you soundly! Ask the Children of Israel what happens when you delay. You see the Promised Land, but you wander for the next 40 years because you hesitated.
Desperation is disruptive to those who are satisfied, safe or stuck.
Those that are satisfied or safe will try to silence you. They will be appalled and repelled by your desperation. However, they are satisfied and safe and they are stuck - they think God will only move if He moves inside their neat, nice and polite little box! They aren't the ones sick. They aren't the ones who are famished. Are you willing to risk your resolution or forfeit your freedom to fit in with them? Are you willing to lose your opportunity so that they can feel comfortable without your cry? People won't like it but cry out anyway! People won't like it, pursue now! People won't like, it press in any way! People won't like it, get to Jesus anyway! I need some folks who will interrupt. I need some folks who will plead until they see the promise come to pass. I need some folks who will move.
Cry out now. Yes, what happened to you, what you went through, what you see now, what you feel now is real but Jesus is passing by! Will you make a move? Will you settle into sameness? Will you accept your sickness, failure, and stuckness? Will you let Him pass or will you cause Him to pause? Is there anyone in the house that is so committed to your own wholeness, your own miracle, your own breakthrough, your own touch that you are willing to make others who already have theirs uncomfortable. I can’t sit here and let Jesus go by and not cry out. You may be so whole that you can wait, but I can’t wait. My condition isn’t better, but I am about to bust a move so that it will be. I can’t wait on you.
