Enlarge Your Kingdom Territory Lord!
Suk May Yei / Pastor of Prayer and Care
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| Kyle Glenn on Unsplash |
"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' And God granted his request." (1 Chronicles 4:10)
The radio was playing “This Is My Father’s World”, composed in late 19th century in Lockport, NY. It brought back very sweet memories to me. Through missionaries this hymn traveled thousands of miles to the Far East, was translated into Chinese, and I learned it when I was in kindergarten there. How could I imagine that half a century later, I would be called to serve in the town right next to Lockport? What an amazing mobilization plan our dear Lord has to enlarge His Kingdom!
Nowadays people are more mobile than ever before. Just in our Eastern Hills Family, we have brothers and sisters who have moved locally, nationally, or internationally; and there seem to be more to come in the near future. On one hand, I thank the Lord that I can grieve our temporary separation with hope in Christ, praying that the Holy Spirit will knit us even closer together while we are separated. On the other hand, I can also thank the Lord in advance for sending His passionate followers who served here, equipped to multiply the Gospel in the new cities/countries that He places them in, for good or just for a little while, all for His Glory!
In addition, I thank the Lord for these brothers’ and sisters’ obedience following His flow and surrendering all to Him. While at the beginning they may feel alone in the new place, I pray that the Lord sustains them with John 16:32b, “Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me”, and that their spiritual antennas are so sensitive that they, together with their family, will not only see the urgency for Gospel Sharing and Disciples Making, but they will also make “the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16), so that the Kingdom Territory will be multiplied and enlarged exponentially!
The radio was playing “This Is My Father’s World”, composed in late 19th century in Lockport, NY. It brought back very sweet memories to me. Through missionaries this hymn traveled thousands of miles to the Far East, was translated into Chinese, and I learned it when I was in kindergarten there. How could I imagine that half a century later, I would be called to serve in the town right next to Lockport? What an amazing mobilization plan our dear Lord has to enlarge His Kingdom!
Nowadays people are more mobile than ever before. Just in our Eastern Hills Family, we have brothers and sisters who have moved locally, nationally, or internationally; and there seem to be more to come in the near future. On one hand, I thank the Lord that I can grieve our temporary separation with hope in Christ, praying that the Holy Spirit will knit us even closer together while we are separated. On the other hand, I can also thank the Lord in advance for sending His passionate followers who served here, equipped to multiply the Gospel in the new cities/countries that He places them in, for good or just for a little while, all for His Glory!
In addition, I thank the Lord for these brothers’ and sisters’ obedience following His flow and surrendering all to Him. While at the beginning they may feel alone in the new place, I pray that the Lord sustains them with John 16:32b, “Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me”, and that their spiritual antennas are so sensitive that they, together with their family, will not only see the urgency for Gospel Sharing and Disciples Making, but they will also make “the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16), so that the Kingdom Territory will be multiplied and enlarged exponentially!
Last but not least, I thank the Lord for being our guide: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19) Thank You, Lord for making a way where there seems to be no way. Thank You, Lord for working in ways that we cannot see. Thank You, Lord for Your ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). Thank You, Lord for all Your promises! We are so blessed to be His children. Thank You, Lord for all!