Enlarging your capacity – Part 1

Text: Deuteronomy 1:6; 2 Kings 4:1-7
Key verse: Deuteronomy 1:6: “When we were at Mount Sinai, the Lord our God said to us; ‘you have stayed at this mountain long enough,” (NLT).

Capacity is the maximum number a container can take or the highest quantity a tree can produce. If you look at the label of a bottle, you will see where it is written the amount or quantity the bottle can carry. It also means the amount or quantity that something can carry. Even vehicles are measured in terms of what they can carry. Capacity is the ability any human being can demonstrate to do something assigned to him or her. People will measure you according to the capacity you have demonstrated. One desire every person must have, no matter your category or level, is to increase in capacity and make tremendous progress. Nobody wants to mark time. God did not call us as believers to mark time and be stagnated. God created us to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28).

God wants to give us capacities that will enable us achieve great things for Him and for His glory. He wants us to move forward and expand. You cannot perform beyond your capacity. The extent to which you can positively affect lives depends on your capacity. You are not supposed to be found on the spot you were yesterday. We have different kinds of capacity, which include spiritual, mental, financial, academic, physical and relational capacities.

You should be taking intentional step every day to increase in these different capacities. We need various capacities in life to move forward and make impact. One prayer every believer should pray is that God should increase His capacity in you, so as to enable you do more for Him.

You cannot increase your capacity if you are comfortable with where you are. A close look at Deuteronomy 1:6 shows that the children of Israel on their journey to the Promised Land came to the foot of the Mount Sinai, the eastern side of Mount Horeb and dwelt there for about a year. They became satisfied and comfortable at Mount Sinai, but it was not their destination. God had in mind of sending them to conquer territories and subdue nations, but they came to the foot of Mount Sinai and stopped their journey. Probably they camped in Mount Sinai because it was a very comfortable place when compared to the land of Egypt where they were coming from. They became satisfied with the status quo and staying within their comfort zone instead of advancing to new levels. It is time to move to your next level. A stagnant river breeds mosquitoes, diseases and death. Rust destroys an unmoved vehicle, while a person who only lays in bed develops bedsores.

To enlarge your capacity, you must break camp to advance. God instructed the children of Israel to break camp and go up to possess the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 1:7). To break camp is to forcefully move forward whether the devil likes it or not. There are things that have limited you and prevented you from increasing your capacity, but God wants you to remove them out of your way, so that, you can make progress. God’s express desire for everyone that is redeemed through the precious blood of Jesus is to advance in life, match forward and increase in capacity in all aspects of life. Just as parents see their children from toddler to adulthood and they rejoice, that is the way the Bible says that God rejoices with our progress (Psalm 35:27). Your progress, spiritually, materially and otherwise does not make God sad, but bring glory to Him.

• Today’s nugget: God delights in your progress. Prayer: Lord enlarge my capacity. Prayer lines: 08033299824. E-mail: amadiabelukachi@gmail.com. Rev. (Dr.) Abel Ukachi Amadi, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria.