It's Time To Move When God Says Go Higher!

It's Time to Move: When God Says Go Higher
Have you ever felt stuck in the same spiritual place for too long? Sometimes God calls us out of our comfort zones not because we're doing anything wrong, but because He knows there's more inside of us. Today's message is for anyone who senses deep down that they cannot keep staying where they are spiritually.
What Does It Mean When God Says "You've Been Here Long Enough"?
In Deuteronomy 1:6, God spoke to the Israelites at Mount Horeb, saying "You have dwelt long enough in this mountain." This wasn't a punishment - it was a divine push toward greater things. God saw that His people had more potential, more purpose, and more blessings waiting for them.
The same God who moved the Israelites is calling us today. He's saying we've been circling this mountain long enough. We've been stuck at this level long enough. We've been surviving long enough - it's time to move to a place of thriving.
How Do We Recognize Spiritual Complacency?
Complacency doesn't always look like sin. Often, it looks like settling. It's a whisper that says "you're doing enough" or "stay right here, don't grow, don't press yourself." But God wants us to go higher.
Signs of Spiritual Complacency
When prayer becomes optional instead of essential. We only pray when something goes wrong, when we need healing, or when we need finances. But prayer should be our way of communicating with God and building our relationship with Him - seeking His heart, not just His hand.
When worship becomes routine instead of relational. We worship because it's "worship time" rather than because worship is who we are. Praise and worship should be essential to our lives throughout each day.
When we stop expecting God to do anything new. We only talk about what God used to do, as if He's taken time off or doesn't exist anymore. But God can do new things whenever He wants to. We should come to church with expectation, looking for God to show up and show out.
When we settle for survival instead of pursuing our purpose. Many people are just existing rather than truly living. God wants us to be impactful - to impact our families, streets, communities, and churches.
Why Does God Call Us to Move Higher?
Throughout Scripture, elevation requires movement. Abraham had to leave his father's house. Moses had to leave the backside of the desert. Peter had to step out of the boat. The disciples had to leave the upper room and go into all the world.
Sometimes the resistance we feel isn't a sign to stop - it's the wind of God trying to lift us. Airplanes take off against the wind, not with it. That resistance gets underneath the wings and allows them to soar.
Three Areas God Is Calling Us Higher
Higher in Prayer: Not just praying when we need something, but praying because we need Him. Corporate prayer has power - there's strength when we pray together, study together, and come together as believers.
Higher in Holiness: Holiness doesn't mean perfection; it means pursuit. It's about pursuing His spirit and the fruits of the spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Holiness is about relationship, not rules.
Higher in Our Assignment: God is calling us to operate in our gifts, not bury them. Complacency buries gifts, but obedience multiplies them. Your gifts will make room for you - you don't have to make room for yourself.
What Happens When We Choose to Move?
When God told the Israelites to move from Mount Horeb, it was because He had another land for them to possess. The enemy wants us to stay in one place so we miss our blessings, but God has more for us than where we currently are.
Moving higher requires intentional effort. We must be intentional about pressing forward. This means not drifting, not quitting, not coasting, and not waiting for our feelings to be right. We move with purpose because we trust that God is leading us.
How Do We Overcome the Resistance to Change?
Pressing isn't easy. We'll face doubt, opposition, and challenges. But we press when others doubt us, when they're not on our side, and even when they talk behind our backs. We press because those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, mount up with wings like eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint.
The hardest part is often just showing up. Once we make the decision to move, God provides the strength we need for the journey.
Life Application
This week, make a personal decision to refuse to stay where you are spiritually. Come out of complacency and move into a higher place with God. Ask yourself: "God, where are you calling me to grow in my life?" Then commit to specific actions that will move you from where you are today.
Examine yourself honestly - Are you giving God your best? Are you moving in the gifts and talents He's given you? Are you showing up consistently for prayer, worship, and fellowship with other believers?
Questions for Reflection:

• In what areas of my spiritual life have I become too comfortable or complacent?
• What gifts has God given me that I may be burying instead of using for His glory?
• How can I move from just surviving spiritually to truly thriving in my relationship with God?
• What specific step is God calling me to take this week to go higher in my faith?

Remember, God has more for you than where you currently are. It's time to move when God says go higher. Your best days are not behind you - they're in front of you.