Sanctification means Expansion

On Saturday, forty students attended the Dying to Live Seminar. I always get excited when I am presented with new students, many of whom will hear the presentation of the death-to-life principles for the first time. I can see Holy Spirit at work. As I am teaching I know that He is instructing, correcting and revealing. And in ways beyond our understanding, these personal revelations are expanding the kingdom of God.

Do you know that God wants to expand you? That is the nature of spiritual growth. A. W. Tozer said, “The widest thing in the universe is not space. It is the potential capacity of the human spirit—unlimited extension in all directions.” The Israelites’ conquest of Canaan was about possession and expansion. God wanted them to multiply and bear fruit. It is no less true of you. Jesus said, “By this your Father is glorified: that you bear much fruit” (John 15:8). What is this fruit? It is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) which can only be accomplished as we grow in faith (2 Peter 1:5-7). If we increase in faith, Peter promises that “the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to [expanded in] you.” And of this expansion, Isaiah says there will be NO END (9:7).