FAITH FOR THE FUTURE - II

pastordallaspettis
Jun 7, 2023
2 min read

Start Stretching What You Have

Isaiah 54:2

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;

We will continue to glean from this chapter in Isaiah. God first admonished Israel to praise Him for the promise. Now, He admonishes them to prepare for the promise. God tells Israel to enlarge their place, enlarge their tents. Are you hoping for a blessing, or are you preparing for God’s promise? Start by stretching what you already have.

I read an illustration by a Navy Seal several years ago. Everyone in the audience was told to lift their hands. Then they were told to life higher, and again, a little higher. By this time people were really stretched out. When the speaker asked if they were maxed out, the audience replied with a resounding YES! Then he encouraged them to stretch just a tiny bit more, to which they all succeeded. Yep, you got it, you usually have room to stretch just a little more. This is called Tactical Reserve. As Christians, we always have some, and usually plenty, of Tactical Reserve. God said to Israel, “Spare not.” What are you saving yourself for? Paul said it this way in 2 Corinthians 12:15, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”

The degree of your preparation determines the promise. God will never give you a promise for which you aren’t prepared. Stretch your stakes, drive them deep into the ground. You cannot build upon a weak structure. A grape arbor must be strong and secure when the young vines are planted, or as the vines grow and begin to produce more and more, the fruit will fall to the ground and rot.

Do you want God to use you? Do you feel called to some type of ministry? If your answer is yes to either of these questions, let me ask further - how do you handle adversity? How do you handle criticism? How well do you absorb your pain in public? How do you handle emotional pain in private? I’m going to tell you the absolute truth about being used of God. Your threshold of pain will determine the capacity of how God can use you. This actually applies in most areas of life. If you need to be liked by everyone you will never be a grounded and mature person.

Can your stakes handle more responsibilities? Are your stakes deep enough for you to stand a strong storm? If God were to grant all your prayers today, would your stakes be strong enough to bear it? The fact is, God may be holding your promise in His hand waiting on you to get ready for it. Stretch and strengthen the stakes of your soul in prayer and seeking God.

Finally, in verse four, God assures Israel they will not have to live in shame. He tells them they will forget the shame of their youth. Nothing cancels our past like living in the future God has designed for us. Praise God before you see it. Prepare for what is coming!