“Say to Aaron, Take your rod, and stretch out your hand upon the waters of Egypt.” Exodus 7:19
God is a God of power. We are very comfortable in having God take the initiative in bring great things to pass. We expect God who has the power to do all things to just do it! But, it is a gigantic leap of faith for us to conceive of God wielding his power through us! I can believe in God stretching out His arm; it is infinitely more difficult to believe in us stretching out our arm with the same results.
Stretching physically makes you extend or lengthen yourself, sometimes with force. If you have been leading a sedentary lifestyle, it’s going to hurt! Mentally, stretching means that you push yourself to the limit of your ability or intellect, as with challenging or demanding work. Cerebration is painful! Spiritual stretching requires the strenuous exercise of faith. The Apostle Paul stretched himself “to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand.” 2 Corinthians 10:16. For Paul to go farther than he had ever gone, he had to demand more of himself than he had ever given. Nothing in life is more terrifying than full bore faith!
Huge obstacles confronted Paul every step of the way. His bold move unleashed opposing spiritual forces that he likened to warfare. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-4. When you stretch yourself spiritually, Satan will attempt to destroy you, diminish you, delay you, detour you, defer you, detain you or deceive you. False brethren opposed him. (There are people who say they are your friends but who actually work against you.)
But his biggest obstacle was self-doubt. Almost apologetically, he says, “For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:14. This passage makes me want to scream: Just do it! And, eventually, he does. You may find yourself in this same situation. You want to do something, but you don’t know what. You don’t know if you have the authority to act. You don’t know if you are biting off more than you can chew. You don’t know if you are dreaming of something bigger than is possible. Only God will determine how high you will go, but you will not go anywhere unless you take the leap!
What is your vision statement? Do you have a vision for the average, the good, the great, the stupendous, or the colossal? Do you have a vision for souls, for growth, for strength? Do you have a vision for service, for helping people, for lifting people up? Do you have a vision for outreach, for revival, for miracles? Do you have a vision for a closer walk, for a better prayer life, for more witnessing? Do you have a vision for greater holiness, for more love, for more usefulness? Do you have a vision for greater unity, for more powerful worship, for mighty moves of God? Do you have a vision for ministries not yet established?
God did not create you for mediocrity. You have the desire, you have the vision for what needs to be done. Don’t squander a cathedral vision on a phone booth life. You know God can do it. Now, it is time for you to show God, and the world, that you and God can do it together!