BECOME ENLARGED AND STRETCHED - by Paul M Hanssen

BECOME ENLARGED AND STRETCHED - by Paul M Hanssen

I have served in ministry for 44 years. During this time, I have witnessed much, learned a great deal, and discovered many wonderful and life-changing treasures. I have traveled to over 70 countries and ministered in 56 countries on six continents. After all these years and many experiences, I feel as if I am only now seeing a broader picture of Truth. As I grow older, I hope to gain an even clearer understanding than what I have today.

God’s Word has been my passion and my life. Everything I have experienced and learned thus far has led me to the realization of one main thing: it has taught me how little I truly know. If the increase of knowledge in God’s Word has not taught you this valuable lesson, then you have not learned anything. If knowledge has inflated your pride rather than breaking and humbling your heart, then you have not discovered the Truth. The knowledge of Truth broadens our understanding of how small we are and how little we know. As the Truth grows in my life, I have become aware of just how much of God’s Word I have bypassed and ignored, both deliberately and unknowingly, or simply bypassed without acknowledgment.

Every servant of God throughout history has received a specific and unique mandate, as well as a vision from the throne of God. Therefore, it is not surprising that each ministry has its own focus and theme. Jesus Himself had a central theme in His ministry and teachings—the Kingdom of God. There is nothing wrong with having a vision and a particular focus as long as the vision does not lead you to bypass portions of scripture that do not support the particular narrative of your vision and focus.

I am increasingly discovering parts of scripture that I have overlooked throughout my years of service. Many people I know have ignored verses, chapters, and books of the Bible because certain Truths might upset, contradict, or stretch their understanding, necessitating change and adjustment. We tend to avoid certain Truths because they challenge our current knowledge. We conveniently skip specific scriptures since we struggle to integrate them into the puzzle of fulfilling God’s purpose as we perceive it. We erect fences around our doctrines, providing no space for growth and expansion. This is a dangerous reality! We must humbly fall at the feet of the Master and heed His guidance when we realize that we don’t have everything figured out or when we see there is more to learn: when we understand that the narrative of our belief system might need to be expanded, challenged, tweaked, and stretched. This is where we find ourselves as we step over the threshold into a new year and a new spiritual dimension. We must embrace “all scripture” to “fulfill all” that God has purposed for us.

Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord. 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. (Isaiah 54:1-2)

We are soon to cross the threshold into a new year as we step into a season of fruitfulness and harvest. The spiritually barren will bear fruit, and the evidence of the seed of Truth deposited within the heart will be made manifest through the travail of the Spirit. This will be a season of making deep choices, intense anguish, and travail within the people of God. However, it will also be a time of rejoicing, singing, and victory.

For this time of fruitfulness and harvest to occur as the Spirit of God has foretold, something else must happen: an “enlarging” of our capacity and a “stretching” of our understanding. The cords and stakes that support our vision must be lengthened and strengthened. This signifies change: a change in position, perspective, and the status quo. The harvest of our spirits cannot be fruitful until “the womb” has been stretched to the measure and capacity that God has intended.

If we are unwilling to embrace the enlarging and stretching, we will remain trapped in our current state and become barren and unfruitful. Embracing growth and expansion means accepting change.

The time of harvest is also a time of change! Are you willing to expand and grow to align with God’s purpose and narrative for you? Prepare yourself—changes are coming!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!