I CHOOSE TO EXPAND

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There are certain truths about this Isaac in Genesis 26: 1 – 33  that all mankind needs to know. Isaac was transformed into an extraordinary Bible personality. Isaac took steps in life that led to expansion in his life (spiritually and materially), and these steps are readily available for us today.
According to Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary definition, Expansion is an act of increasing or making something increase in size, amount or importance. Expansion is not an unconscious act; it is a deliberate and well calculated (divinely) inspired action to bring about an expected, positive, glorified end in life endeavours. It is the product of well utilized ideals and the corresponding positive actions. The man Isaac experienced a tremendous expansion by exploiting all positive avenues as he willingly paid the price to get there.Prophetically, God’s wish for us is to expand – for He said in 3John 1:2 that “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth”. God has promised to make us expand in all we find our hands to do and in achieving our dreams – that He will certainly bless the labour of our hands. However prophecies don’t fulfil themselves; you need to enforce the part of the prophecy you desire. You must stand up as Isaac did in Genesis 26. He stood up, he refused to be defeated, pitied – but launched into actions in line with the prophecies concerning him and the result was of a great harvest. Isaac chose to expand and he paid the price of expansion through discipline in his life.
No man wishes himself not to expand positively in life, but wishes without corresponding actions will not produce expected results. We need to wake-up from our dream World and face reality, for if wishes were horses the lame will ride on it. We need to stop being warriors in our dream world where all things seem possible but right here in the physical realm we are living from hand to mouth. This is not as a result of the family background we came from, of not being educated, of demonic forces against us, nor as a result of our location (though they do play part in our expansion if allowed to) – these and so many blamed factors do not always determine our expansion, but our life discipline does! In a well-developed setting with all resources at your disposal expansion will not come your way if there is no corresponding action towards it on your part. Expansion is by choice, for it must be a personal decision burning within you. In such state all other factors that have the tendency to stop you (such as location, illiteracy, spiritual forces, family background, just to mention a few) will become immaterial, for everything around you will become a material to use for your expansion fulfilling the wise sayings that “everything is a weapon in the hands of a warrior”.
This positive form of expansion that Isaac experienced was made possible through his disciplined life style. My dear reader there is no short cut to this truth – A Life without discipline cannot truly experience and sustain expansion. The price of discipline, effects, and hindrances to expansion is applicable to us today and it is contained in this précised inspired book. There are six (6) major areas we need to exercise discipline that were revealed to me concerning the man Isaac which were instrumental to his expansion. They are Disciplines of Discipleship, of Obedience, of Prayers, of Daring, of Sowing, and of Continuity.

Expansion goes beyond just material and financial breakthroughs. It is the totality of man (his Spirit, Soul and Body) with its root in the Triune God, and made possible unto man through his connected regenerated Spirit in him. That is when man’s Spirit is in contact with God through his regenerated Spirit made possible through the blood of Jesus Christ, being that Jesus Christ is the only way to this God giving power to expand positively in life. The prosperity and health of the physical body is of great importance and a good thing to aspire to achieve, but it becomes of no value and even a snare when you do not possess the prosperity of the Soul; “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” 3 John 1:2.
Expansion should start from the Soul, for the prosperity of the Soul is highly needful in handling the expansion in the physical; for the expansion in the physical is truly a bad master, but a very good servant when you have the prosperity of the Soul that indicates your expansion has a route in the Lord God Almighty through Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
Expansion in the Lord Jesus which is the prosperity of the Soul begins when one gives his/her life to Jesus Christ, by accepting the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary

Dear reader, it is also very possible to experience expansion that is not of our Lord God when: –

• Expansion at the expense of life’s principles and without morals nor respect for ethics of life is expansion outside the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is negative
• Expansion is without the fear of God and respect to life, such is also negative
• Expansion is to satisfy self and its desires, it is not a godly expansion
• Expansion to deal with those you call your enemy, to get your pound of flesh (revengeful) has no root from the God of all peace that says “vengeance is mine” as it is writing in Romans 12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Expansion is expected to bring peace and happiness to you as the first recipient, then family, and your Society at large even unto your generation. It is to focus you towards your God Almighty. When it is contrary, watch out such expansion is not of God and it always has thorns within that chock the recipient and in most cases the beneficiaries also, leading them to total destruction. The devil does also give expansion to people who walk in accordance with his desires: – when your desire to expand is all about you (me, myself, and I) and ungodly, it is of the devil. Remember the “rich fool and the Tower of Babel” in Luke 12:13 – 21, and Genesis 11. Contentions, fighting, tribalism, competitions, killings, fractions, camping (cliques), strife, envy, hatred, and lots of corrupt actions are the order of the day when expansion desired is acquired outside God and geared towards self-gratification “James 4:1– 3”

Godly expansion is peaceful, lovable, and God glorifying. Though most times the route may not be as easy as that of the ungodly but at the end thereof the recipient and all beneficiaries will not only be blessed here on earth but also look forward without fear to a heavenly home once their days on earth is ended. Expansion truly is not about you, but about God and His purpose of allowing you to be alive. Expansion is God working through you to establish His kingdom here on earth. For when expansion is all about you, you will soon go into extinct as the ‘Rich fool’, hence you see reasons why you and every one of us needs disciplines of life to be able to accommodate the greatness in our lives or our coming greatness. Divine disciplines are essential tools that will not only leads to expansion but will maintain and keep you in that level as you increase against and in the midst of all odds. Isaac put to practice these disciplines in his life and the results were outstanding.

Join me as we travel together in this World of possibilities where discipline is the mobility to and for expansion.

CHAPTER ONE

DISCIPLINE OF DISCIPLESHIP

“And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. And Isaac dwelt in Gerar”  Genesis 26: 1 – 6

Here we discovered that Isaac was a disciple of God. A disciple is one who believes, hears and obeys the teachings of a leader – just like a sheep and its shepherd. Isaac heard from God and he obeyed. For expansion to take place in our lives, we need to become a disciple of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, hear, and obey His voice. For obedience to God’s voice is the key that unlock doors to positive expansion in life, and you cannot hear His voice except you are disciplined enough to be His disciple.

In an age of gross indiscipline as ours – where liberty is taken for licence to do and undo, freedom being abused daily, there is a greater need than ever before that we discipline ourselves to become and remain His disciples. There are three major stages required to be discipline in becoming and remaining a disciple:

Discipleship begins with Salvation

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” Ephesians 2: 1- 5

Salvation brings about the new birth that declares you a member of the Commonwealth of Israel and a beneficiary of the Covenant that Isaac belonged to (Genesis 26: 2 – 3). Salvation is only possible when we forsake our sins and the lifestyle that are not of Christ. This discipline seems difficult for the natural man, for we hardly admit our sins and shame considering what we may suffer lost if we do. If you truly need the godly type of expansion explained in our introduction, you should face reality and get into the discipline programme, for without the discipline of salvation, there will be no Sonship: without Sonship, no Discipleship! And as a son your father (God Almighty) will discipline you, for discipleship simply means “Discipline”. Most of the time God will go against your desires (as He did Isaac), break your egos, humble you as He strengthens and steady you to bring honour to His name, for without discipline we are yet to be His disciple “For whom the Lord Loveth He chastenth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth”  Hebs. 12:6

Salvation is a lifelong effect which appraisal is not of this World, but in Heaven, hence Salvation is of three fold: I am saved, I will (remain) saved, and I shall be saved.

I am saved describes what happens when you confess your sins: being sorrowful for sin and off sin. That your sins are forgiven and you are cleansed from all unrighteousness. According to I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” – then you are saved. I will be saved describes the pathway Salvation places you, about the happenings on this pathway and your actions and reactions on this pathway “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Phil. 2:12. – This stage is what is called the Christian race, and it takes discipline to remain in it. I shall be saved depicts the warm welcome we shall receive by and by from the Lord, the righteous Judge when we finish our course (the Christian race) here on earth. “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Discipleship requires the Ability to PAY the PRICE

There are prices to pay if you must be a disciple that will be able to hear His voice and obey for a productive expansion, for He said “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” John 10:27. These costs cannot be accomplished if discipline is not put to play. Discipleship requires three major prices to pay:

The price of placing Christ above all: Considering Christ above all simply means putting Him and all that has to do with Him first, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Phil 3: 7 – 8. This denial of all, including ourselves is the deepest discipline of Discipleship, but by the mathematical calculation of Heaven you end up losing nothing. For if you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; all other things (pertaining to life and godliness) shall be added to you says Mathew 6:33.

The second major price to pay is the bowels of mercies. We live in a time ‘where nothing goes for nothing’. Now not only giving to get, but also in a stylish way (especially amongst believers) pay back every minute of offence done. This act of vengeance is so silently performed also within respected matured believers and ministers alike (bottled enmity), and thus the bowels of mercies expected of us as believers and confessed Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ has been buried and sealed with hot irons. Bowels of mercies in the areas of forgiveness should be an act of discipline every Disciple should practise, remember Isaac did it; for Isaac created a space in his life to always forgive and follow peace by all means. The man Isaac showed us in Genesis 26: 26 – 31 (please do refer to the introductory page) that in forgiveness, we need not recite the wrong done on us, or turn our backs on opportunities to make peace. We need to be merciful; we need to be disciplined enough to know that forgiveness is not optional, but compulsory, for with an act of forgiveness many things can be put right. The World at large is deficient of this very discipline: Leaders (both Spiritual and Political), families, and even confessed believers harbour and transfer aggressions, bitterness, anger (all having their root from unforgiveness) from generation to generation. Communications are broken, and hatred is developed as a result of this malady, and most of us cannot even explain the main reason – we grow up to follow suit. We must break off this indiscipline and extend our hands of help, restore back communication link even to those that might have offended us. Bowels of mercies are hardly displayed in our midst today because we are always focusing on who is right, who is wrong, and not what is right. If everyone of us will discipline ourselves enough to always focus on what is right, who is right and who is wrong will be immaterial, and as such we will see the need to allow bowels of mercies to flow through us as we are all having same focus – what is right.

The third major price to pay is the preaching of the gospel ‘Evangelism’ “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Mark 16:16 and Acts 1:8.  We are saved to go and save others. Expansion is not all about the material, it is also more of the spiritual – making heaven should be our ultimate goal, and we need to make heaven with our families, friends, love ones and as much people we can carry along “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:” Matt 6:19 – 20. Evangelism is an act of discipline every Disciple must obey. It enables us not to lay treasures only here on earth “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise” Prov 11:30, but also in heaven “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3. I would have loved to evangelise but I am too busy, you may say but this is not an excuse. For if you cannot go, you can sponsor to spread the good news, so please get into the discipline of preaching this gospel of Christ Jesus for the night draws near where no man can work.

Discipleship requires the Discipline of Bearing one’s Cross

Three things seem to be necessary for us each day: Our daily bread (for this we pray, Matthew 6:11), Our daily work (in which we are expected to be faithful, 1Thess 4:11 – 12 and 2Thess 3:10 – 13), and Our daily Cross. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple”. Matt 16:24 and Luke 14:27. The Cross is all about denial of self and of all that the World has to offer outside Christ Jesus, it is all about full surrender to the will and voice of the Father (God Almighty through Jesus Christ). Beloved, bearing ones cross is not to kill nor humiliate you, rather it is to strengthen you in spiritual issues, discipline you enough to have priorities for spiritual things than that of the physical, at the same time empowering you to be favoured to live life in its fullness. This discipline places you in total dependence on God, and at this level expansions in life cannot darken your reasoning nor make you to compromise your stand as a Disciple. The discipline of bearing ones cross develops in you the teachable spirit and the humble and meek attitude towards life irrespective of your achievements and level in life.