ENLARGING THE LITTLE (3)

<<<GOD’S WAYS TO A LIFE OF ENLARGEMENT>>>

TEXT: Psalm 71:21; Isaiah 54:2-4

5) BE A COMMITTED GIVER

Don’t be manipulated by smooth talkers or compelled by desperate money changers turned preachers to give, rather let giving be your lifestyle. Give to God, God’s work, God’s people (the poor, needy, orphans, widows, etc) not just out of search for more but of necessity and obligation. Also, you can give out of compassion, by instruction or through leading. Whichever is the motivation, give!

What you give only leaves your hand; it doesn’t leave your life. It is hard to be blessed if you are not a giver. Though blown out of proportion by gospel-laundering preachers, the principle of giving and receiving is Biblical and of God (Luke 6:38). Your heart of giving is a test of your confession of faith because faith gives!

6) OBEY DIVINE INSTRUCTIONS

“If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures” (Job 36:11).

God shall be bringing instructions your way; you must obey if you desire increase. When you follow divine instructions you enter divine destiny. You need to refrain from over-analysis of God’s instructions. You may not understand what He is working out by instructing you in a way that looks foolish, but in the end it will be clear God was working out your good. Disobedience cripples progress and causes destiny friction.

The instruction to Naaman sounded foolish but in the end there was healing (2 Kings 5). When the marriage wine finished, Jesus requested for water and they obeyed, in the end wine came forth (John 2: 1-10). Increase comes on the wings of obedience.

7) HAVE A VISION FOR GREATNESS AND HAVE A WORK PLAN

What is your vision for 2014? What are your plans for this year? Which area of your spiritual life are you really trusting God for more grace and increase? What you cannot picture in your eyes and mind, you may not capture with your hands.

Abraham had no child but God gave him a vision of nations. God told Jeremiah He (God) would do exactly what he (Jeremiah) had seen (Jeremiah 1:11-12). It is true that no picture; no future. And when your picture of the future is rooted in scripture, because God is committed to scripture, by extension He is committed to the vision rooted in scripture.

And avoid laziness…step out and work! Overcome sleep and procrastinations…it is time to work. Faith without work does not work!

8) FOCUS ON ETERNITY AND BE HEAVEN CONSCIOUS AND RAPTURE-READY

Nothing should be as important to you as Heaven. There is no earthly position that should count to you as your Heavenly placement. You must put God first and put Heaven first. Don’t pursue earthly things to the point of losing Heavenly place. Any possession that will replace your placement is not worth it.

Finally, you must remember that the true measure of your life is not what you possess here on earth, it is what you possess there in eternity (Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:15). Beware of covetousness. And flee away from the desperate desire to have money and be rich; these are elements of the love of money. Always remember that whatever God does not give you, you do not need it (maybe yet). It may take time, but it truly takes God. There is sound of abundance of rain. You shall succeed!