Keith Battle - Shifts - Part 2

Numbers chapter 13. While you’re trying to find that in a Bible app or device that you may have, I want to invite all the men here. Zion Church has a location in Woodbridge, a location in Fort Washington, and a location here in Landover. The men of Zion Woodbridge are putting on their first annual Daddy-Daughter Dance this Saturday. The dance is called Tiaras and Ties, and the men at Zion Woodbridge are putting it all together. But you don’t have to go to Woodbridge to attend; you’re part of the Zion family. If you want to do something special with your daughter, it may be worth taking her, even if you don’t live with her. You should ask her mother if you can take her. We should be involved in our children’s lives, whether we are geographically close or not, or whether we are in a relationship with their mother. We should be involved in our children’s lives. Amen? I said we should be involved in their lives. You fathered them, so father them. Some men would love to have children and would love access to their children. Yet, you act like you don’t have enough, running around here acting like a kid. I’m sorry; I’m supposed to be giving an announcement, but I got off track! If you go to ZionWoodbridge.com, you will find a great opportunity to create a lasting memory with your daughter. It’s going to be at Woodbridge High School on Saturday, September 23rd. It’s a great time for men, and I believe it’s an excellent way for us men to teach our daughters how to be treated by men. Open the door for your daughter, pull the chair out for her, pay for the date, and pick up the tab. Chivalry matters! You deserve this, and you are worthy of it, so consider attending.

Now, Numbers chapter 13. I want to continue this dialogue on the subject of shifts. This will be part two of «Shifts.» I feel like I struck a chord last week in our church around this subject, and if I didn’t impact you last week, I hope to do so this time. Sometimes when you’re challenged about shifts in your life—whether they are professional, relational, or ministry transitions—it’s simply a shift in your life. Sometimes, you need more insight: «Okay, now what?» Today, I’m going to be talking about shift steps: what specific steps you need to be taking as you move into what may be a shift in your life. Shifts are significant; you don’t have many in your life, but they are great opportunities. As I said last time, sometimes they are imposed upon us; other times, we are invited into them. But as we’ll see in the scriptures today, there’s no guarantee that you will embrace them.

What I want to look at today is when the nation of Israel was invited into a shift. Their invitation was to a land shift. They were going to be shifted from the wilderness into the Promised Land. God says, «It’s time; let’s go into the Promised Land. I’ve already shifted you out of Egypt, out of the bondage you were in. You’ve been in the wilderness, and now I’m shifting you into the Promised Land.» I want to examine this passage in Numbers chapter 13 and identify some steps we need to take regarding this matter of shifting.

Verse 1 says, «The Lord now said to Moses, 'Send out for men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of the 12 ancestral tribes.'» I’m going to stop right there. God says, «I’m giving you this land, but I still want you to send out people to explore it.» It’s yours, but explore it!

That’s my first step: always research a shift opportunity. Do your research, do your homework! It is irresponsible to walk into a shift ignorantly. We must operate with prudence. Failing to do research on a shift opportunity is irresponsible. Some of you get a word from God, and you think, «God told me to start a daycare,» and you put a sign up on your door: «Jesus Daycare.» But you have no insurance, no toys, no diaper wipes—nothing! You can’t just open up a daycare like that. So, what are the necessary steps you need to take? What information do you need to gather?

Listen, in verse 17 of Numbers 13, let me read verses 17 to 20 for you: «Moses gave the men these instructions. He sent them out to explore the land. Go north to the Negev and into the hill country. See what the land is like. Find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many. See what kind of land they live in: is it good or bad? Do they have towns? Do their towns have walls, or are they unprotected like open camps? Is their soil fertile or poor? Are there many trees? Do your best to bring back some samples of the crops.»

Here’s my question for you: What are the questions you need to be asking about the shift you’re contemplating? It’s very important that you do that. There’s a biblical example of that in Luke chapter 14.