Enlarge Your Tent

Isaiah 54:2-3

"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. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited.”

This wonderful promise begins with a command from God to “enlarge the place of your tent.” In order for God to fulfill His plans and purposes for our lives, we need to make room or create the environment for God to work. Many times we pray for things, but we do not see the fulfillment of our prayers because our lives are so cluttered or bound by our limitations that God cannot work.

The Apostle Paul exhorts us to “build yourselves up in your most holy faith.” (Jude 20) He also says that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God,” (Romans 10:17) and that “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) There are steps we have to take by faith to create the environment for God to work. We have to diligently seek Him, and in doing so, we come to know Him, recognize His voice, and know His ways.

Once you have enlarged your place, you can now lengthen your cords. You begin to stretch yourself and reach out beyond the borders of your limitations. Begin to do things that you have not done before. Isaiah says, “do not spare.” The NIV says, “do not hold back.” Don’t hesitate! Go for it! 

But as you reach out in faith into the unknown of God’s promises, you must “strengthen your stakes.” Jesus told us in order to survive the flood, we need to “dig deep and lay the foundation on the rock,” by coming to Him and “hearing His sayings and doing them.” (Luke 6:48) As you expand into Satan’s territory it is essential that you take time to dig deep into Christ and drive the unshakable stakes deep into Him.

Once you have enlarged your place, lengthened your cord, and strengthened your stakes, a wonderful thing happens. You can now stretch out the curtains of your dwellings. Curtains are the cloth or skins that make up the tent covering, providing security and safety, not only for yourself, but also for your household and those under your authority.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.” Today, believe that God has great things for you and prepare yourself for them because “your Father who is in heaven gives good things to those who ask.”(Luke 11:11)

Andy Clark

God Sees Darkness as Light

Psalms 139:12

“Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”

As I was praying over the Middle East and North Africa, the Lord spoke to me from Psalms 139:12 and said, “I do not despair with darkness because darkness is as light to Me.” During some of the darkest days in Israel under the wicked rule of Ahab and Jezebel, who were killing all of God’s prophets, the great prophet Elijah finds himself in a cave full of despair at the condition of his nation and in fear of his very life. God is not even fazed by Elijah’s complaint, but declaires, “I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him." (I Kings 19:18)

As we watch the growing wickedness and darkness spread over our world, our nation and sometimes over our lives, we can lose our God’s perspective. God is not fazed by the darkness but rejoices in the light. We need to put on our night goggles of God’s Word and God’s perspective of current events. God paid no attention to Elijah’s despair and complaint, but simply tells Elijah to get up and go anoint the next king of Syria and of Israel and Elisha the next national prophet of Israel.

In Isaiah chapter eight God speaks judgment over Israel, but in Isaiah 9:1-2 God declares, “Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever….The people who walk in darkness will see a great light — a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow.” God who is light and sees darkness as light, speaks light into darkness. In Genesis one, darkness covered the earth, and God spoke light into the midst of this total deep darkness, and there was light.

We are not people of the darkness but of the light. Our perspective and response to what is going on around us should be diametrically different than the world that walks in darkness. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

And those who love it will eat its fruit.” Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18)

As you pray over our world, ask God to open your eyes to see what He sees and pray that those who walk in darkness will see a great light. If you are in a dark place, know that darkness and despair will not go on forever and rejoice that the darkness is as light to God, and God speaks light into darkness.

Andy Clark

All Authority

In Matthew 8:6-13 a Roman centurion came to Jesus to heal his servant who was paralyzed. When Jesus said he would come, the centurion gave an astounding response.

"Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

You notice the centurion did not say that I am a man of authority but “a man under authority.” The centurion touches on the first key to authority. That authority is derived from submission to a greater authority. Jesus marvels at the centurion’s response and turns to the crowd and declares; “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” Why does Jesus associate this concept of authority to “great faith”?  It comes from the second key to authority, and that is God’s authority is absolute. The centurion said, when I tell, “my servant ‘Do this,’ he does it.” There is no discussion, negotiations, delay, maybe or an excuse of any kind. When he gave a command, it was as good as done.

In our world today, we have lost our sense of authority, both in submission to authority and operating in authority. When God spoke, the worlds came into existence at the authority of His word. Great people of faith are people who respond to and operate in the authority of God. When God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, the Bible says he got up the next morning and set off to do it. When God told Moses to stretch forth his rod over the Red Sea, he acted immediately.

 In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus said: "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Our authority to carry out the ministry God has called us to is derived out of our relationship with Jesus who has “ALL AUTHORITY” and the degree of authority we give Him in our lives. The people in Jesus day said that “He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matthew 7:29

The world is looking today for a people who walk under and in God’s authority. By His Spirit He has given you authority to carry out all that He has called you to do and the authority to overcome any challenge or obstacle the enemy may bring against you.

Andy Clark

Trust

Psalms 37:3-5

Trust in the LORD, and do good;

Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Delight yourself also in the LORD,

And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

This passage of Scripture begins and ends in trust. So should the life of every Christian begin and end with trust in God no matter what our situation, whether in abundance or in want, whether in sickness or in health. The word “trust” in the Hebrew means to be bold, confident, secure and sure. This bold, secure confidence must be in the Lord, Yahweh, the self-Existent, Eternal One.

In the world we live in today, we need to shift our trust from our government and economic system to the self-Existent and Eternal One who changes not and depends on no one. As our world shakes and reels, we who trust in the Lord should be the most optimistic, confident, secure and sure people on the planet. This is not because of who we are or what we have done, but because of who He is and what He has done. God is looking for a people who are bold in Him and will not cower to the gods of this age that roar like lions trying to intimidate us and silence us.

The Psalmist continues, “Trust in the Lord and do good.” True trust in God always produces good works because trust empowers us to reach out and encourage, build up, and serve others. Acts 10:38 records, “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Though Jesus had little in the way of possessions, and had no official title or position, His trust and confidence in the Father empowered Him to give His life to minister to others.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” When we take our eyes off of ourselves, our needs and our wants, it enables us to see the opportunities God has for us to bless and influence the lives of others. Trust delivers us from the fear and/or bondage of trying to meet our needs or constantly trying to improve our lives and makes us secure because our security is in Him.

Trust opens the door for us to delight in the Lord, to truly enjoy and bask in the love and security of the Lord. Like Jesus, the joy and fulfillment of life is in the Father. Trust in the Lord changes your whole perspective on life and enables you to see the world as He sees it.

Andy Clark