Topic: Stretch Your Faith
Text: Isaiah 54:2
Speaker: Pr. Annie Wong
Introduction
The word “stretch” makes us think about stretching our body and muscles before we start to
exercise or play sports. Life happens in the stretch. Over the years, we’ve been changed and
stretched physically in different ways. We’ve been stretched and grown taller, not so sure about
shorter but definitely wider.
1. God is out to stretch us
God is out to stretch us. God is out to stretch our faith. Stretching is something God wants to do
in our lives. It is our spiritual life that God wants to change and transform. To stretch is to expand or extend something to a greater size or length. When it comes to life, being stretched means we’re growing. God stretches us so that we can grow more and more into the image of His Son Jesus Christ. To grow our faith, we need to have our faith stretched.
We need to learn in the spiritual how to be flexible and bendable in the hands of God.
Gumby can bend and stretch to incredible lengths but in real life, nobody likes to be stretched like him.
If we want to grow in faith, we must be willing to have our faith stretched. If we want to grow in patience, God will have our patience tested. If we want to grow in leadership, God will put our leadership to the test. If we want God to grow our love for Him and others, He will put some really unlovable people in our path. The point is that if God is stretching us, it’s best to cooperate with Him in the stretch.
There is a phrase that says, “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.”
If we don’t stretch before exercise or sports, it’ll be easy to get injured. To be stretched by God,
we need to learn to be faithful in small things. It is important we learn how to stretch properly in
small tests of faith so that we will know how to stretch in major ones.
Israel’s wilderness – The Israelites were tested and stretched in their faith in their wilderness
experience.
For some, it’s too much of a stretch to come to church at 7:30am on Sundays. It’s too much of a
stretch to give tithes and offerings. It’s too much of a stretch read the Bible and pray everyday.
It’s too much of a stretch to join a CG. It’s too much of a stretch to commit to serving in the church.
If we fail in these small stretches of faith, we won’t be ready for the bigger challenges in our lives.
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.” – (Luke 16:10 NLT)
We need to trust in God even when it doesn’t make sense, inconvenient or uncomfortable. When we trust God in small stuff, we will be able to trust God in big stuff. And when the much larger trials come our way, we will not only be able to handle them but also have victory in them. Our life of faith is won or lost in the stretch. It is in the final stretch that our destiny is determined. Learning to stretch in a tug of war (of what we should or shouldn’t do) is another area God wants to stretch us.
Romans 7:15, 19, 24-25a NIV
Tugs-of-war are stretches that transform us into the likeness of Jesus Christ. God uses tugs-ofwar to grow our faith. If we refuse to stretch because it is too hard, then we will stop growing.
Maturity doesn’t come with age. Growing old is not the same as growing up. Our maturity happens in the stretch. If we want to have the victory, we need to allow God to stretch and bend us.
Prophet Isaiah said, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff
out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice.” – (Isaiah 42:3a)
The Lord says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV)
How can we sustain in the stretch? A rubber band is known for its stretching ability. Like a rubber band, we are not effective unless we’re stretched. We need to know who is doing the stretching.
A rubber band cannot stretch by itself. It needs someone to stretch it so it can fulfil its purpose.
“for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” – (Phil. 2:13 NIV)
As believers of Christ, we want the Lord to stretch us but we also need to know that not every
stretching comes from the Lord.
Satan is a deceiver and the father of all lies (John 8:44)
Daniel, Shadrach, Mishach and Abednego – Daniel 3
“To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and
learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.” – (Daniel 1:17 NIV)
“…. We want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image
of gold you have set up.” – (Daniel 3:18 NIV)
“Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued
his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” – (Daniel 3:28-29 NIV)
“Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.” –
(Daniel 3:30 NIV)
2. Don’t resist the stretch
When God is stretching us, we shouldn’t resist the stretch.
Rubber bands will dry out and lose their elasticity if they’re not used and stretched from time to
time. It’s never easy to be stretched, but if we don’t allow God to stretch us, we’ll never be what
He has created us to be.
Jesus healed the man’s paralysed hand (Mark 3:1-6). Jesus said to the man with the shrivelled
hand, “Stretch out your hand.”
We need to pull or stretch in the direction of God.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as
well.” – (Matthew 6:33 NIV)
God will never made us into who we’ve not been created to be nor will He take us where He has
not created us to go. God stretches us into what He has designed for us. We need to cooperate
with Him by making those conscious choices to walk in His ways, to seek His kingdom and
become everything He has created us to be. Once we’ve surrendered to Jesus Christ and become
serious about serving Him, we’ll find it possible to stretch in ways we never thought imaginable.
God is out to stretch our faith but if we refuse, then ultimately not only will we lose out, but so also
will all those around us. The continuous stretching on God’s part is that we can cover more ground
and be a blessing to others.
3. Stretch to reach out further
“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your
cords, strengthen your stakes.” – (Isaiah 54:2 NIV)
The word “enlarge” is an encouragement for us to think big, dream big and get a larger
perspective. A small black dot on a big white screen stands out and always becomes the focus rather than the big white screen. Enlarging our territory and sphere of influence requires us to move out of our comfort zone. Pr. Annie shared how God has stretched and carried her through in the past and also examples of Praise Kids team members stretching their faith and moving out of their comfort zones. God will see us through when we’re being stretched, especially in trying new things. Let’s stretch our faith and reach out more! Stretch and expand your tent pegs beyond your limitations. God is calling us to grow. God has a breakthrough this year for you and me that He has preordained. In this season, God is waiting for you to step out and experience what He has set for this moment in your life. Let’s reach further than where we’ve reached before. Let God enlarge our capacity and enlarge our thinking. Let’s step out in obedience and in faith! May God breakthrough the boundaries in our lives, in our church and in our community!
Questions for reflection and discussion
1. How is God growing and stretching your faith right now? In your CG share and encourage one another how you can grow and cooperate with God when he is stretching your faith. (Luke
16:10; Romans 7:15, 19, 24-25; Isaiah 42:3; 55:8-9)
2. Share how the Scriptures can sustain or keep our faith alive in the stretch? (Philippians 2:13;
John 8:44; Daniel 3)
3. This year the theme for our discipleship journey is “Let’s reach out.” Share in your CG how
we can encourage and help one another to “enlarge our territory”, to serve Him by reaching
out and fulfilling His purpose in our lives, in church and in the community. (Isaiah 42:2)
