Are You Thinking Big Enough?

. .

Perspective is critical to success.

Our perception of our current environment will shape our reality.

What are we saying about our lives?

Is your life in a hard place filled with tough days?

What are you saying about your family members?

Do you see your family as being filled with Godly potential?

What words are you speaking forth concerning your own future?

Genesis 1:26 in the King James Version says:

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

The outward nature of man looks like God.

I like the New Living Translation of Genesis 1:26 which says:

“Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us…”

What does it mean to be made in His image and after His likeness?

You were created to be the master of the universe.  The Living Bible translation of Genesis 1:26 says:

“Then God said, “Let us make a man—someone like ourselves, to be the master of all life upon the earth and in the skies and in the seas.”

I don’t need an agent from CSI or NCIS to tell me that there is royal blood flowing through my veins.

I come from good stock . . .my financial genealogy includes. . .Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. . . all multi-millionaires of their time.  We are called to be multi-millionaires of our time.

The outward nature of man looks like God.

The inward part of recreated man (regenerate, born again, renewed man) is like God.

Regenerate man is pure, holy and focused upon the needs of others rather than upon seeking its own pleasure.

Let’s discover some revelatory truth from Isaiah 55.  So here’s the question to ponder as we go through this teaching.

“Are you thinking big enough?”

1)    Every Good Thing Comes From God.

Isaiah 55:10 in the New King James Version says:

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there. . .”

The gifts of God come to earth and remain there.

In fact, it’s raining while I’m writing this teaching.

Consider snow. Snow melts and turns to water, goes into the soil, is drawn up and released by plants so the cycle can repeat itself.

James 1:17 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition says:

“Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].”

The gifts of God are described as being “good and perfect.”

There are no “shades of grey” in God.

2)    Everything God Created Contains The Ability To Bless Mankind.

Psalm 55:10 in the New King James Version concludes by saying:

“. . .But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater.”

God only makes good things.

If God made it, it is good.

Rain waters the earth and causes seed and plants to flourish.

It rained a couple of days ago as well. . .and seemingly overnight our shrubs experienced amazing new growth.

Again, the idea is to keep repeating the cycle.

Similarly, every act of faith continues the cycle of blessing.

Can somebody say “Hallelujah!!!”

Romans 11:29 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition says:

“For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]”

3)    God Has Always Used Words To Create His Desired Result.

Isaiah 55:11 in the New King James Version says:

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth. . .”

Remember, we have been made in the image and after the likeness of God.

We are not God. But we are designed to function as God functions.

God’s word will water the earth and bring forth its desired result.

We must concentrate upon watering the dry areas of our life with faith that is demonstrated by the spoken Word of God.

Romans 10:17 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition says:

“So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).”

4) Our Success Is Tied To Speaking The Word Of God.

Isaiah 55:11 in the New King James Version continues by saying:

“It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

Several thoughts. . .as my fine wife Bev says:

“A prayer never prayed will never be answered.”

We will never possess what we fail to confess from the Word of God.

We strongly encourage you to create a confession on what you want to see manifested . . . based on the Word of God.

2 Corinthians 9:8 in the Contemporary English Version says:

“God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others.”

“Heavenly Father, I praise you that my possibilities are unlimited. . .I have more than enough. . .I have everything I need to do good things for others . . . and rejoice that the only thing fixed in my life is my focus on You and Your personal promises for my success in the Word of God.  I rejoice that soon I will be functioning in the end-time office of the giver.  Hallelujah.  Amen.” 

5) Speaking Words Of Faith Positions Us For The Release Of Supernatural Joy Into Our Lives.

Isaiah 55:12 in the New King James Version says:

“For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”

If you’ve listen to our daily Rich Thoughts For Breakfast calls or watched many of our SUNDAY NITE LIVE teachings you will know that “This Joy That I Have” is one of my favorite songs.  Go to youtube.com type in “This Joy That I Have” by Shirley Caesar and get ready to get your SHOUT ON.

“This Joy I Have

this joy I have the world didn’t give to me ooh ooh

this joy I have hey hey hey the world didn’t give to me

oh this joy I have the world didn't give to me

the world didn't give it and

the world can't take it away oh yeah”

Speaking words of faith. . .will energize your joy. . .in the midst of every storm and during every battle.

Romans 15:13 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition says:

“May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.”

Truly, the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10 in the King James Version says:

“. . .neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

6) God Instructs His People.

Numbers 13:1-3 in the New International Version said:

“The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders." 3 So at the LORD's command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites.”

God sent leaders to explore Canaan before Israel entered.

Moses didn’t just send anybody out. . .he picked a leader. . .a person of credibility and reputation from each tribe.

We are not “in this thing alone.”

God is with us and giving instructions to those who will listen.

When we follow His instructions. . .we get His approval

Psalm 90:17 in the New Living Translation says:

“And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!”

We’re going to see that following His instructions will make you successful and it’s profitable.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 in the Amplified Bible says:

Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

7) Listen For Specific Instructions.

Numbers 3:17-20 in the New International Version says:

“When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, "Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? 20 How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land." (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)”

God had specific things for the spies to seek out.

He had a specific route for them to travel, “from the desert into the hill country.”

God wanted the spies to make notes about the geography of the land.  They also were to pay careful attention to the people in the land.

God knew about the cities and fortifications…He wanted Israel to know…before they entered the Promised Land.

Check out the land for its ability to sustain a crop.

God always wants us to bear fruit!

8) Be Quick To Obey The Voice Of The Lord.

Numbers 13:21-25 in the New International Version says:

So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath. 22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 When they reached the Valley of Eshcol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. 25 At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.”

Delayed obedience is disobedience.

When God gives us an instruction we’re to immediately begin to make that instruction into a reality in our lives.

If you know God has given you an instruction. . .if you know what you’ve heard lines up with the Word of God. . .then there should be no hesitation or equivocation in following his direction.

John 16:13 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition says:

“But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].”

9) Look For The Positive Things In Your Life.

Numbers 13:26-29 in the New International Version says:

“They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 They gave Moses this account: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan."

Everybody I know faces challenges. . .some more than others.

But, we’ve purposed in our hearts to always look for the good things God is doing.

There’s an old song I like. . .it’s called “Think About The Good Things God Has Done.”

I am not advocating Dale Carnegie’s How To Win Friends and Influence People or Dr Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power Of Positive Thinking.

I am advocating Kingdom Living.

10) Make A Bold Declaration Of Faith.

Numbers 13:30 in the New International Version says:

“Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."

When believers speak words of faith. . .when we move in accordance to His divine instructions. . .things begin to happen. . .circumstances begin to change and miracles begin to manifest.

However, we must declare on a daily basis. . .the dreams we want to manifest.

Create you own dedication. . .your own confession or affirmation.

I, <<your name>> this day <<date>> I boldly and confidently proclaim that nothing or no one will hinder me from achieving the things God has stirred in me.  I will not be moved by what I see or hear. . .I will not be moved by adversity or hindrances but only by thus saith the Word of the Lord.  In His grace and mercy. . .He will help me make the remainder of 2016. . .the greatest year of my life.  Hallelujah!!  Amen!!

11) Understand That Others Will Not Always See What You See.

Numbers 13:31-32 in the New International Version says:

“But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.”

As you press the Word of God. . .you will begin to see and understand in ways that others don’t or won’t.

Never allow what you see to determine what your heart believes.

Caleb saw a treasure-filled land ripe with potential because believed what God said about the land being His gift to them.

The other scouts accompanying Caleb and Joshua saw giant people and a land that devoured the inhabitants.

Consider the irony of describing a land that devoured “inhabitants.”

12) Refuse To Become A Grasshopper In Your Own Sight.

Numbers 13:33 in the New International Version says:

“We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."

Making this verse real to me. . .literally changed my life.

I have Pastors in the area where I live who will not fellowship with me because I refuse to live as a grasshopper in my own sight.

The powers of hell do not like me because I will not preach that the Christian must live as a grasshopper in their own sight.

Whatever the case, I say, “Death to the grasshopper mentality.”

We are giants in the Kingdom of God and I believe. . .it’s time for us to stop talking and begin taking land!

As people made in His image and after His likeness… we should be moving toward victory today and every day!

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