Last week, I laid the groundwork for what I believe the Lord is saying about 2026. If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to do so now. Either way, if you’ve read it or not, the following is a short summation of it.
I wrote about how fast 2025 went. The hope and excitement a new year brings. We looked at a couple of verses out of Isaiah 54 that speak of growth, expansion, and stewardship. We talked about this being a year marked by increase, new connections, and opportunities. And that they will come by faith, obedience, and our active engagement in the things of the Lord. Today, we’re gonna take a little deeper dive into the details of the message. So, buckle up and enjoy the ride!
The Isaiah 54 chapter is a message about the work in preparation for the transition and the coming new covenant. It is the fulfillment of the blessing of Abraham. It really gives a prophetic glimpse into where we are now. The two verses we looked at last week were Isaiah 54:2-3
“Enlarge the place of your tent,
stretch your tent curtains wide,
do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
Your descendants will dispossess nations
and settle in their desolate cities.”
It speaks of a new and exciting season of growth! Remember, about 5,000 people were added to the church in the first days after Pentecost, according to the book of Acts. Yeah. It’s talking about that kind of thing and enlarging your tent to make room for it! That’s what they were doing in the days leading up to the event, preparing for what was coming with no real idea of what it would look like. I may be in the minority here, but I haven’t ever experienced anything quite that dynamic in my 36 years of churchin’!
That kind of thing? Yeah, it is supposed to be the norm. The Father is calling the church to be the church. Not just play the church or be a consumer market where it’s about me, me, me. We are in a season where the equipping needs to start equalling being the equipped. It’s also true that in some cases, the equipping just simply needs to start!
Yes, discipling and equipping are an ongoing process. But what we have already received needs to be put into practice or circulation, if you will. To receive more, we have to make room—enlarge the area of our tent! Empty your ‘equipped account’ by investing in the lives of those around you, according to your call, purpose, and destiny. That’s how our capacity grows. More of Him for more of them. This is the principle from the Parable of the Talents we looked at last week.
For there to be a year of increase, there must be investment. What have you received? What have you done with it? Two simple questions, but they carry a lot of weight. They challenge us to reflect on our stewardship, obedience, and our willingness to step out in faith with what God has already entrusted to us.
Remember, the resources we have received are for building His church—people, not buildings.
We never invest when we stay in our comfort zone. As a matter of fact, we rarely acquire anything of value to invest with from there either. Our comfort zone is a small place of dwelling. It’s a self-centered place that exists for us alone. God is calling us move beyond it and enlarge the place of our dwelling, that means making room for others, including HIM!
It is a time and season that requires room for a greater measure of glory. It is a call to steward well the equipping we have received. A time of consistent and intentional investment in His presence. In His presence, there is a pruning of everything that is stealing growth and life from the branches of the vine. This growth is to be the expansion and revelation of the Kingdom within you. It is a dynamic that only happens in real Kingdom stewardship, the intentional pursuit of knowing Him.
When seeking and knowing the Father becomes our highest priority, His favor and blessing not only fill our lives but overflow to those around us. It is in the priority of seeking Him that the reward of increase happens. (Hebrews 11:6) The increase found in His presence includes things like Kingdom resource, peace, generosity, humility, unity, and love. All ingredients necessary for what the Father deems to be the successful ministry of the saints. It is the place where every part does its share, resulting in the growth of the body and the edifying of itself in love. That is what operating as the Kingdom seeking equipped body of Christ looks like.
In this season of expansion and growth, let’s pursue relationship with the Father above all else and allow the saturation of the Him in our lives to spill over to those around us. I encourage you to take inventory of what you have already been given and equipped with, and to begin spending it radically on those around you. And always remember the fail-safe Paul gave us as the equipped saints for the work of the ministry, Love Never Fails! Go out! Expand the boundaries of your dwelling! Swing for the fences! Love recklessly, it’s the Kingdom way!
Kingdom living doesn’t happen by accident.
#hardchargingkingdomseekers
In the passionate pursuit of His Kingdom,
Pastor Jason
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Let’s build Kingdom Community!
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