When you step out into obedience and hear from the Spirit of God, others will listen to God through you. God is unlimited. He responds to our capacity, which is the ability to hold, carry, and sustain what God wants to release through us. This is important because God is a God who works across generations. It is important because He has not created the world for it just to die. He has built things there and wants it to be passed on from generation to generation.

God is speaking to sonship, Joel 2.28. He is speaking to fathers. He is talking about releasing what He has carried to the next generation. What you carry must be transferred. It is not enough to carry the fire for a season; it must be passed down to the next generation.

The Holy Spirit will only fill a life that is prepared to receive Him. God will not share His throne. If you want more of God, you have to make room for Him. Our capacity sets limits on the flow.

You must identify what He has given you. The level of your gift is dependent upon how much room in your life you are willing to cede to God.

How can God fill vessels that are already full? We have to continually make room for God in every aspect of our lives. We cannot have sin and unforgiveness and expect God to fill us. The amount of our surrender determines the amount of our overflow. God gives according to capacity, not equality. Not everyone has a plate-sized capacity. Some have just a saucer. Your capacity can grow, but it has to be mastered.

If we are going to continue to move and grow, we will have to shift. There must be commitment.

To increase your capacity, you will have to pay the price. Someone filled with oil has gone through hell and high water.

When God gives us something, He still owns it. We are given gifts for stewardship purposes. We do not own anything. It all belongs to Him. Capacity is not about talent; it is about what you do with what you have been given. Capacity requires change and stretching. Many want new blessings, retaining old habits and attitudes. God will not stretch what you will not surrender. Capacity is cultivated and often happens in private seasons, with our gifts being carried out publicly.

The process is just as important as the promise. Before God builds men up, he brings them low. Before he brings you to the platform, He will take you to a place that develops your capacity. When you face the giants, it will not stop you from reaching your promise.

Transformation often happens in solitude. God will always prepare the vessel to be filled. He will always be prepared. He knows how to develop the vessel for how we are built. When we are given a promise, we are also given a process. He hand-picks the right circumstances for our development. He does not deliver us from the circumstances because He uses them to develop us through them. He will stretch us to build us. Every painful place will stretch your capacity. God will not forget the promise. Do not get bitter, get better.

The problem that we pray against is the very thing that God uses to stretch us. It’s not punishment; it is for eventual placement. Your gift will supply a place for you. Your gift will qualify you for promotion. Value in the kingdom always increases where purpose meets a problem. You do not need everyone to like you. You are gifted for divine strategy. What is in you will speak for you.

When problems appear, do not pray that they be taken away; see how God is using them for your life and destiny.

Messenger: Pastor Tim Banks

Scriptures: Joel 2.28