I heard these words from the Lord recently:
"There's an anointing being released right now! There's dunamis power being released right now to break the shell that hinders My people from advancing!"
And I heard further:
"There is a newness in the spiritual realm! For I am setting My people free from their shells, because the time has come for My greater works in their lives! Take it! Receive it! New territories! New expansions! New outreaches! Greater authority! Greater influence! Get ready to enlarge your tents!"
In Isaiah 54:2-4, the Lord says, "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make desolate cities inhabited. Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore."
Yes, indeed, this is a time to advance! Whatever 'shell' or 'limitation' that the world (or the enemy) has put over you, this is a time to receive the dunamis power of God to set you free! For many of God's people, you've 'outlived' your 'shells'! The Lord gave me a funny impression the other day. It's a picture of a 'hermit crab'. And He said, "Tell My people don't be like a hermit crab, always hiding inside, and staying 'small' inside the shell!"
Admittedly, it isn't easy to break away (or break free) from something you are so used to. But break away you must! Because the time has come for His greater works in your life! Proclaim this loud and clear: "The time has come for God's greater works in my life!" And fear not, because you will not be put to shame! This is His promise for you, as you let Him set you free! Free from the bondage and the limitation that has kept you 'small'!
Let's look at an example in the Scripture now. In Paul's third missionary journey, there was a time he was speaking, reasoning and persuading concerning the kingdom of God in the synagogue at Ephesus. But when some were hardened and did not believe, and even spoke evil of the Way, he departed from them, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus instead. This was a private school run by someone named Tyrannus, and Paul rented (or was granted) a classroom in the afternoon hours (the hours when the school was unused), and he did this faithfully for two years (see Acts 19:8-10).
But there came a time God wanted to do a greater work through Paul! And He was about to expand His influence and outreaches in the whole city of Ephesus beyond the classroom that Paul used! A time of 'greater expansion' and 'enlarging the tent' was at hand! Notice what Acts 19:11-12 say, 'Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them'. The very word 'unusual' here implies Paul had not been accustomed to work such miracles before! In other words, it was unprecedented to Paul!
Now, what if Paul didn't believe the 'dunamis' power of God could flow through those handkerchiefs or aprons? And what if he refused to let God do beyond what he knew to do at that time, thus confining himself to just teaching and reasoning inside the classroom? The advancement of God's kingdom and the breakthrough in the city of Ephesus wouldn't have happened, such that the Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed! (Acts 19:20)
People of God, will you also allow the Lord to break the 'shells' that limit and confine you? This is your time to be set free! This is your time to begin walking in your God-given destiny! This is your time to begin fulfilling your God-given potentials! Take it! Receive it! The anointing is here for you to receive! And proclaim this loud and clear again: "The time has come for God's greater works in my life!" To God be all the glory!
