Year of EnLARGEment

Hey guys! Yeap, that's our theme for

year 2008: Year of EnLARGEment!

cool eh? ^^ plus we had an awesome combine service at New Life PJ recently on the 6th of Jan.
Inspiring message by Pastor Jeremiah Yap where he shared with us God's word for New Life for this new year!!

His message was about *entering into the year of Enlargement* that God has prepared for you & me! and with that proclaimed year 2008 as a year of enlargement! Expect to see God move mightly in this nation as we put our faith in Him & live a life pleasing to Him.


*Below are the notes from his sermon*

Today's need:

• Identity & affirmation
• Security & care for future
• Freedom & justice

Man's answer:

• Work & more work; choose work over relationships
• Self-preservation

God's answer:

• Matthew 6:31-34

31"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32"For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

1. Higher realm of divine presence - e.g. Gideon

• enlarged from smallness & fear to faith & courage - a winner spirit

2. Higher justice & vindictaion - e.g. Esther

• enlarged from village girl to queen that served God's kingdom...

3. Higher influence & possibilities - e.g. Moses

• enlarged from fugitive to leader entrusted with authority & power for the miraculous delivering of a nation

4. Higher purpose - e.g. Joseph

• enlarged from victim (above resentment & bitterness) to God's promotion (Prime Minister) - Isaiah 54:2

Therefore, we must...

1. See enlargement spiritually for influence in God

• work with Christ to beget Godly people behind us with clarity

2. See enlargement mentally through problems & projects

• ask for Godly wisdom, learn knowledge with creativity
• plan with enlargement in mind

3. See enlargement emotionally through pain & stress

Conclusion

ASK in prayer (Solomon)

TRAIN ourselves, train others for significance in Christ

Be STEWARDS of faith, hope & love with stability of soul

* * * * * * * * * *

Sorry the notes are not really complete.. hehe, forgot to bring pen & paper.. so had to use hp to take down notes. =p

However, I hope you're able to picture the big plan that God has for your life. As we look into the life of Moses, Gideon, Joseph & Esther, God seems to delight in picking and calling people who are ordinary & enlarge them into vessels fit for His divine use.

God's calling over your life is able to release you to a life of purpose & power. The enlargement that we're talking about is also a call & vision to impact and raise up a next generation to extend God's kingdom & one that is able to live in their destiny in Christ.

A phrase that caught me was, 'Achieve the highest, & you attain everything below it'.

It's true!! "Seek ye first the kingdom of God & all these things shall be added unto you as well. Matthew 6:33".

As we can see from Solomon's story. God gave Solomon one wish, & Solomon asked for wisdom. He could have asked for anything under the sun, but he choose wisdom. His motive was pure, he wanted wisdom so that he could govern his country & lead his people with rightiousness & integrity. Because he choose something higher & greater than himself, God gave him everythinge else below that - money, wealth, health, power, fame, etc...

If our vision is right, God will send His provision. (:

Where is your focus? more importantly, WHO is your focus? ^^

I believe that as we begin to align ourselves to God's purpose and aim to be kingdom-minded people, He will be faithful and supply all our needs. That even as we achieve the higher things in God, everything below it, we have already conquered. Yes! Because we serve an almighty God that created the heavens & the earth!

That's why this year, it's important that we start seeing things from God's prospective. We need to let God come into an enlarged soul, heart & mind. Although we may view certain situations that we are in as problems, let us search deeper than others, and maybe we will realise that those "problems" are actually opportunities in disguise.

It may be our chance to impact the lives of others. It may be our chance to testify of God's faithfulness. It may be our chance to be an influence!

God will enlarge us with the measure that we allow Him to. So let's not limit ourselves but surrender our all to God. Because as we offer our all, which may be just 5 loaves of bread & 2 fishes, God is able to multiply our talents as we commit it into His hands.

In this year 2008, allow God to enlarge your capacity to do greater things for Him.

Let's grow from faith to faith to influence this nation & raise up a generation that will answer God's call! Let's be the vessel that God can use.

Let us enjoy a year of Enlargement with our Lord. (: