Enlarge: February 7, 2014

TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2014.

ENLARGE

DEFINITION:

Make larger; extend; augment; increase in capacity or scope.

SCRIPTURE:

Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. Isaiah 54:2.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

The prophet Isaiah in this passage (above) is talking about the nation of Israel and God’s covenant promise to Abraham to make of him a great nation. As a growing nation God is challenging Israel through Isaiah to make the place of their tent larger.

God chose the nation of Israel to be His treasured possession. They were God’s chosen representatives to the rest of the world. God wanted them to spread out and possess the land He promised them.

This verse refers not only to Israel but applies prophetically to the future Kingdom of Jesus Christ and the need for the church (all believers) to enlarge its tent by spreading the good news of the gospel. This includes each and every believer and this is our challenge to you today. Join us as we enlarge our tent to reach out to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The verse we have written above goes on to tell us to “Lengthen your cords.” God is challenging us as believers to increase our influence throughout the world. Jesus commanded that we, “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

The illustration of a tent is understood by all. When you put up a small tent you tighten the cords and it will house a few people. But when the need arises to hold more people we must enlarge the tent. We do this by lengthening the cords and strengthening the stakes that hold the cords in the ground thus making the tent cover larger. 

In the Hebrew dictionary the word for “enlarge” is RACHAB. It means to become wide like chambers, like the chambers of a heart. It also has the meaning of increasing the size of a city’s borders or the size of a church.

To enlarge our tent we must enlarge our heart by filling it with more of God’s love and enlarge our capacity to love others. It is only as each one of us has more love for the Lord that our individual church “tent” will be enlarged.

Our tents include our ministry, our vision and our testimony to others. When a tent is enlarged the cords must be lengthened and stronger stakes are needed to keep it from collapsing. We need to strengthen and lengthen our cords by looking for new and fresh ways to serve our Lord. The stakes anchor the tent to hold it in place. The stakes must be strong and go deep into the ground. Before we can enlarge our tents we must strengthen our stakes by growing our faith through studying God’s Word and prayerfully seeking His direction.

In this chapter of Isaiah the prophet is speaking of the day when Israel accepts Christ as their Messiah and Savior. “With great compassion I will gather you” Isaiah 54:7. At that time they will need enlarged spaces where they will dwell together and be blessed with a rich reward of everlasting joy and peace. God calls all of us to enlarge our tents.

You may feel. As many people do, timid about witnessing for Christ, but if you grow your relationship with Christ He will provide both the inner strength to tell His message and the opportunities to be a witness.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in James 1:5.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

PRAYER:

Strengthen my faith by giving me a better understanding of Your Word as I read it daily. Help me to communicate with You daily through prayer in a new and fresh way. Enlarge our family’s spiritual vision so we can be used by You to spread the “Good News” of Christ’s gift of salvation.