The Mindset of Increase. Part 4

Opening prayer and call to worship

We approach the Lord with gratitude, reverence, and praise, blessing His holy name and acknowledging Him as ruler in heaven and on earth. We thank Him for redemption, for setting us apart as His people, and for His presence among us as we gather in His house. We ask that His perfect will be done here as in heaven, that He visit, lift, and strengthen every heart, and that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, help us hear and obey the Word with right hearts. We give glory to God and bless one another with joy.

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Text: God’s promise of multiplication and preparation

The message continues a series on multiplication, centered in Isaiah 54. God gives a promise after barrenness and calls His people to active preparation before visible increase.

Isaiah 54:1-4 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

God’s method of drawing us into His plan is through promises. Our faith stands on the promises and transforms us as we cling to them.

2 Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Faith sees the unseen and rejoices before results

God commands the barren to sing and rejoice, even when circumstances suggest the opposite. Faith is conviction about the unseen. We do not need faith for what is obvious; we need faith to embrace what God reveals.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

God often hides provision until the appointed time, then opens our eyes. Hagar despaired in the desert, but God heard the lad, opened her eyes, and revealed a well that had been unseen.

Genesis 21:17-19 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

Principle 1: Prepare before provision

Faith prepares for God’s provision before it is visible. Preparation is a sign of faith to God and to others. The Lord promises growth and multiplication in every sphere, and He instructs us to get ready now, not later when we see results.

Romans 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Do you know why God entrusts more to those who are faithful with a little?

Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

The tent metaphor: five preparatory actions

Isaiah’s tent imagery shows practical steps for readiness. In that culture, a tent was a dwelling; as the family grew, the tent had to be expanded. Spiritually, this is our capacity to host, care for, and disciple people. A large building with small hearts cannot receive the harvest. God calls us to enlarge our inner capacities before visible increase.

1. Enlarge the place of your tent

Expand your inner life in God: deepen relationship with Him, grow in love, make room in your heart.
Increase your personal capacity to notice, receive, and care for people, not just in generic terms but personally and practically.
Ask: What do I have from God to give to others when they come?

Can we help more people if God sends them to us?

2. Stretch your tent curtains wide

Expand your boundaries, not only your inner capacity. If the frame grows, the coverings must also extend.
Reach beyond comfort zones to those outside the tent. Think practically about embracing specific people God wants you to include.
Media, children, youth, men, women, families, the poor, and the seeking are all fields to stretch toward.

3. Do not hold back

Remove limiting beliefs and self-imposed borders. Stop waiting for perfect conditions.
Believe God’s promise of multiplication and cooperate with it.

4. Lengthen your cords

Lengthen the reach of your life and ministry as God enlarges the tent.
Learn to manage time, relationships, and personal capacity so that you can care for people.

5. Strengthen your stakes

Strengthen the foundation of what God has entrusted to you.
Be prepared for growth so that what God adds is not lost.

Personal discipleship readiness

God’s goal is not only an active team but individuals who have a personal revelation of whom they are called to reach. Teams form when individuals share God-given burdens and unite around the same vision. Each believer should be able to lead someone to repentance, help them seek the baptism with the Holy Spirit, teach them to pray, and walk with them through problems with patient love and practical care.

Can you do it?

Can you show an example?

Can you be next to such a person?

What can I give to other people?

Walking out the expansion

Jesus forms people for mission as they follow Him.

Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

We must not be blind guides. Expanding the tent includes opening our eyes and tending to our spiritual lives so we have something real to share.

Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

We give what we have from God, not what we do not have.

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Peter once toiled all night without results, but at the word of Jesus he obeyed again. Fruitfulness came through obedient action aligned with the Lord’s instruction.

Luke 5:5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

Joy, attitude, and atmosphere for growth

God commands the barren to sing because joy fuels creativity, hope, and mutual encouragement, while depression drains strength. The enemy seeks to fix our attention on what is wrong, absent, or evil, but God calls us to a faith-filled atmosphere of rejoicing that welcomes His increase.

Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Do you think God can give growth in an atmosphere of discouragement?

Corporate response and confession of faith

We are in a season of multiplication because God is the God of growth and fruitfulness.
We choose to prepare: enlarge our inner capacity, stretch our boundaries, refuse to hold back, lengthen cords, and strengthen stakes.
We will work on our relationships with God and with one another, ready to receive and disciple those the Lord sends.

I will multiply, I will grow, and I will bear fruit by the grace and blessing of God. I am blessed for fruitfulness in every sphere, and I thank the Lord that we will not diminish but increase, for His glory.