Enlarge Your Tent

Recently, I was reminiscing about when my husband and I were looking for a new home. We had looked at so many homes; new construction, old construction, newly renovated, and even the fixer upper. Exhausting. It is an emotionally tedious task to buy a home.  I was totally resistant to purchasing a home that was a fixer upper or was under construction.   Nothing about being “under” construction appeals to me.  The thought of being “under” construction is just that being “under” everything that it entails: drywall, dust, nails, screws, and metal framing.  I am the sort of girl who likes things organized and ordered. I could not see myself living in middle of a renovation or re-construction.  It is against my nature. It would have been misery. Needless to say, we did not buy a house that needed renovation. My remembrance of all this makes what I about to share even more revealing.

About two weeks ago I was ministering to a dear friend about increasing her capacity for God.   I sensed the LORD telling me that our spirits ‘as spirit’ have an unlimited capacity for God.  We cannot contain all of Him but we have the capacity to flow in more of him than we know.  Our spirits expand, transform and conform to the image of Christ from the inside out. We must speak to our spirit, spirit words, that will cause it to respond to the incorruptible seed of the Word of God. (An excellent resource is Blessing Your Spirit by Sylvia Gunter and Arthur Burk).

https://www.amazon.com/Blessing-Your-Spirit-Arthur-Burk-ebook/dp/B0030ZRZAK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1494942263&sr=8-4&keywords=blessing+your+spirit+sylvia+gunter+and+arthur+burk

After some reflection on the importance of increasing the capacity of my spirit, I heard the Lord say, “enlarge your tent”. I knew the phrase was from Isaiah 54:2. At first I was not sure what the Lord was saying to me. Interestingly, I do have a present situation that it is speaking to and trust me it was not what I wanted to hear. Just keeping it real. Therefore, I continued to meditate on the word and just kept asking the LORD what He was saying because I didn’t want the surface, religious traditional interpretation.  Usually that is what surfaces first in my consciousness when I hear something from the Lord, but I have learned to listen more intently. It is important to keep knocking, keep asking, keep seeking for the deeper revelation. He will reveal what He desires when we do. Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. Kings seek the glory out. Kings seek out the revelation.  

Father is doing something supernatural in His daughters; those daughters that are looking to be transformed into the image of Christ.  What no one really wants to talk about is the fact that to be transformed and conformed there must be a death.  Isaiah is prophesying to barren Israel and telling her to prepare for children.

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

The prophet is speaking to the nation at the time, but the Word of God speaks to our lives personally and corporately when we have ears to hear. This word spoke to me both personally and corporately. I am going to share the meaning He revealed corporately for His daughters.

A barren woman preparing for children seems like an oxymoron.  Commentaries state that the prophet was speaking to the entrance of the Gentiles into the Kingdom of God. I am not commenting on that…I believe that is true. However, I believe this word is a corporate word for His daughters. Barrenness in biblical times was indicative of the absence of God’s blessing upon a life. A barren woman lived under a “societal” curse. Most of us are familiar with one or more biblical accounts of barren women. Father is speaking to something else -there is barrenness that is not simply physical but also spiritual.

We are in a season when Father wants His daughters to get rid of their spiritual barrenness. Spiritual barrenness comes from the inability to bring forth spiritual seed.  An Inability to birth spiritual seed means, in the most general terms, that you are not willing to count the cost.  Jesus said, “except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.  He that loveth his life shall lost it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto eternal life.” (John 12:24) In order to give birth to fruitfulness a death must occur, fruitfulness comes from a dying to self.

Most of us daughters have missed fruitfulness in our lives because we were unwilling to die to something for the fruit to come forth. We stay in barrenness because our own wounds keep us from giving birth. When you give birth,  your energy all of it, is focused on the seed coming forth.  Not yourself. Not your own needs.  Fruitfulness comes from self-LESS-ness.  Father wants his daughters to prepare for spiritual births, fruitfulness. He is going to get rid of the barren areas of our lives as we are willing to give birth to His will in the earth. Giving birth to His will requires radical obedience. Our wills are relinquished to His will, so that fruit in the Kingdom can come forth.

Many daughters will birth things in the spirit; things they have never even imagined. Much of which they will not even know on this side of heaven.  Some of it will be revealed in the ages to come. Daughters, our tents must be enlarged. The stakes will be strengthened and there will be an increase in the Kingdom because of our obedience. Our willingness is created in the spirit in “secret place” intimacy with the Father.  Barrenness and unfruitfulness will be a thing of the pass because the time of birthing has arrived-there is a pull of the Spirit that compels us to endure whatever is necessary to bring His seed to birth.  This is what we are being groomed and fashioned for.  We are “under” construction. Not only warriors but also warriors with a womb. Those who fear the LORD, like the Hebrew midwives, will bring to birth regardless of the cost. In the natural, there isn’t much appeal to a house that is “under” construction unless you have vision to see what will come forth if there is a completion of the work.

Daughters of God, enlarge your spirit and capacity for His will for you. Enlarge your tent and prepare for a death and a birth.  It seems counterproductive, but unless the corn of wheat die it abide alone. 

ENLARGE YOUR TENT

© Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles 2013-2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.  Excerpts may be used provided full and clear credit is given to Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Your Book Is Written

Several weeks ago, the Lord started to speak to me about His books. In a relatively short time, I had two different conversations where two familiar scriptures were discussed. I don’t think this is just happenstance. Nothing just happens. So, I knew I needed to take some time to meditate on the scriptures Psalm 139:15-18 and Malachi 3:15-18.  King David the psalmist says,

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet informed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me.  When as yet there were none of them.  How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.

 The prophet Malachi reveals another aspect of God’s authorship in this passage:

Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. ‘They shall be Mine’, says the LORD of hosts, ‘On the day that I make them My jewels.  And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.  Then you shall discern between the righteous and the wicked between on who serves God and the one who does not serve him.’

           

These scriptures speak about books written in heaven. There is a book already written for every human that has ever been on the earth. The books don’t stop there, the Father continues to record the words that we speak concerning Him.  As we gather and speak of His goodness a book of remembrance is written.  Think about it, each of us is important enough to God that he wrote about us before we were even born and then continues to record things about our lives. This means not one of us is insignificant.

My ponderings about books written did not stop there.  This past weekend I watched a live web stream of a writers’ conference (#writeit2017 w/ Apostle John Eckhardt)that was so inspiring. For this aspiring author, it was much needed encouragement. One of the speakers, really spoke “my language” when she taught about her method of journaling.  That sister is serious about journaling. (You can check her out on her FB fan page MaShani Allen) I thought I was a pretty serious journaler (Is this a word? LOL). I use various types and styles of journals for various things. In the past, I would use one or two journals at a time, but then I realized it was too difficult to track different topics. For example, if I need to look for a dream in a journal with various other notes and prophetic words it is tedious. However, separating the journals topically keeps it all in order.

(This is my excuse for having so many journals! Smile.) This sister had journals for everything. This is where my sister took it to another level. She taught on her method of categorizing her journals. I just loved it! Those of us who journal love paper, pens, pencils and think that recording or chronicling important events is not crazy, it’s necessary.  As I have argued before, I think God is serious about recording events as well. He is not just the Author of the Bible. He is the author of many heavenly books including our personal books.  He is the author of our testimony scrolls. (Psalm 40:7, Psalm 56:8, Exodus 24:4,7-12)

In her book, Unveiling Ancient Paths: Testimony Scrolls, Jennifer Newton states, “a testimony scroll, by definition, is man’s written will and purpose for existence, the mandate spoken by the Lord before the foundations of the earth as part of the restoration of creation and relationship with God.” ( pg. 52) She continues to clarify its meaning by stating, “the scroll of testimony, described often as a book in the bible, carries the key to man’s existential dilemma.  It is within this holy and sacred scroll that our purpose and blueprints of God’s divine and perfect will for our lives is stored.  Every person, creature and geographic space has its own testimony scroll to be carried out…” (pg.40)

This may seem surprisingly strange.  That is a lot of books! Thankfully, there is scripture to support this. God had plans for us before he released us into our mother’s womb.  Ephesians 2:10 in the Amplified Bibles says,

           

            For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship) recreated in Christ Jesus,

[born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking pather which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

We say it often, don’t we…God has a plan. YES HE HAS A PLAN. Father has pre-planned some things for us. Good things. Good paths. Are we walking according to his plan? Are we on the same PAGE with HIM? It is said this way in Romans 8:29-30;

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

We were known beforehand, predestined to be conformed to Christ, called, justified and glorified! That is good news! Christ died for ALL! But all have not received.     

           

Newton suggests that “our testimony scroll is the predestination and the purpose that was given for us before the foundations of the earth.” (pg. 65).  However, we all have free will. The Father does not force us down the path He planned for us, the good path, we must choose to walk this path.  Most of us are not even aware of the thoughts that God has toward us but the best way to start finding out is to read His word. As we meditate upon His word and learn His ways and thoughts, the Spirit reveals to us the things that are freely given to us. The Spirit reveals His thoughts toward us personally.

Last month, this word was burning in my heart.  I was preparing for an online bible study when the Holy Spirit said, “change of plans”.  Instead of sharing the lesson I had originally prepared, I spoke about “destiny scrolls”. Here is the kicker, I had attempted to take this teaching live on FB. I had done everything I thought was necessary to get this “word” out through the ministry FB page. I sensed the anointing on the word. I perceived that the Lord was emphasizing this as an important Kingdom reality and not enough believers understood it. Long story short, I finished the teaching but when I went back to listen to it, the sound was altered by some annoying clicking sound. I still don’t know what the sound was. I was very frustrated at this turn of events. I knew that this assignment was part of my testimony or destiny scroll. It was like a fire inside me.  An appointed time comes for a purpose of the scroll, the calling arises then we must choose to walk in obedience as it is revealed. I had walked in partial obedience. I recorded the lesson and made prophetic declarations as I was instructed by the Lord but I eventually deleted the video because the sound was so annoyingly distorted.  In hindsight, I should not have deleted the video. That is why I say my obedience was partial. I was more self-aware than aware of what God wanted. He could have fixed the sound supernaturally.  I was more concerned with what others thought than my simple obedience.

We will be held accountable for what the Lord has given to us (i.e. the parable of the talents).  Our obedience cannot be dependent upon circumstances or the actions of others.  In the fullness of time, our excuses will not be sufficient.  My meditation on the above-mentioned scriptures paired with the recent writer’s conference, has confirmed what I already knew but wasn’t fully acknowledging and walking out in my own life. My book is already written. The book that God wrote concerning my life, my calling and my purpose for being released into the earth is already written. But not just that book, every book I am called to write is already written because the Father has already written it of me.  Just as He did with his beloved Son, he did for me, his beloved daughter.  There is a scroll that has my past present and future already written.  There is a volume that is already written of me. I have a choice to enter what my Father has prophesied over my life or to go my own way.  Many of us struggle to find our identity in this life. I know that my identity is fully known in Him; but today I have a determined resolution (word play- double emphasis) that His recorded thoughts of me are mine to walk out.  His thoughts toward me are innumerable. Selah. My days upon this earth were important enough to be recorded by His heavenly scribes.  Selah. So that when His Kairos moments for me are revealed, I can know what He has said and declared and I am assured in my heart that my book is already written.

Seek Him first because of who He is and then seek to hear what He has declared concerning your days, your calling and your purpose because your book is written!

© Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles 2013-2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.  Excerpts may be used provided full and clear credit is given to Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.