Hit the refresh button in your mind; you're no longer in captivity.
By Jermaine Francis
Isaiah 54:2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, and stretch out the curtains of your dwellings spare not; lengthen your cords and strengthen your pegs.
In this chapter, Israel was in Babylonian captivity. They were slaves of another nation. The enemy had them surrounded. There was no place to expand or grow. They were confined, recoiling, shrinking and just holding on for dear life. As far as they knew this could be the end of their nation. Some of you may be feeling this way right now.
I'm sure some were giving up hope of a future or a turnaround. In verse 1 God compares the state of Israel in that moment to a barren woman. During this time in history to be barren was very shameful and carried a lot of disgrace. God knew the perfect example that described how they were feeling.
God knew their pain and where they were as a nation and individually. Just like He knows your current situation and pain. God began to speak hope into their pain. He said Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman,” says the LORD.
Israel was not in a place to give birth. They were in a place of death. God was declaring that they would leave their current state. He was saying they will give birth again and no longer be barren. In verse 2 He instructs them to prepare for increase. “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.” He is telling them to prepare to have many children. Your barrenness is broken!
This was a promise that they would no longer have to carry the shame, disgraced, and humiliation. They would now have abundance. It is like going from living on the street to living in a mansion. A complete turnaround.
They would now be growing more prominent than the thing that held them captive. God was declaring they would stretch out past their disappointment. They would stretch out and grow.
The same word God gave them is for you today! This is your season to stretch out and grow. It's not a time to pull back its a time to push farther. Grab your tent pegs and rip it out of the place of smallness. Reach beyond the boundaries captivity has given you. If you're willing to reach beyond your shame, disgrace, humiliation, and barrenness of your last season of captivity, you will break into abundance. It's your time of abundant fruitfulness.
Hit the refresh button in your mind; you're no longer in captivity, you are free to be and do what God has declared over you. I challenge you to do something you have never done, to let your mind know that you are in a new season of growth and expansion. You need to expand your tent because you're about to give birth to a new thing!
Jermaine and Rebecca Francis are an itinerant ministry with a mandate to activate, impart, educate and equip Christians for kingdom demonstration. They travel nationally and internationally, speaking at conferences, schools, and churches. Jermaine and Rebecca have a heart to see people awakened and equipped to impact their world with the power of God. They believe every person has a unique purpose, and they desire for each person to find, embrace, and release that fully in this life. Both Jermaine and Rebecca are instructors of Christian International’s Ministering Spiritual Gifts series. They also serve at their local church on prophetic teams under Prophet Bill Lackie, and in various other capacities at Vision Church @ Christian International, under Apostles Tom & Jane Hamon. They are licensed minister under Christian International Ministries Network, overseen by Bishop Dr. Bill Hamon. https://www.jermaineandrebecca.com
