Now that we have discovered the Source of increase, we can ask God's Spirit to build our capacity for increase. No time is ever wasted during our lives. We sometimes feel things take too much time to change, but in the meanwhile we are exchanging our old capacity, or measure, for something greater… Listen to this sermon

Building capacity for Increase
Apostle Aje Pelser

Sunday, 21 January 2007
Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town

We have defined increase as something God gives.
1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
1Co 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.
1Co 3:9 For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Here are some principles that will build capacity for increase in your life.

Meditation & Contemplation
Jos 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Prayer & Fasting – increase power over spiritual realm
Mat 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Mat 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Mat 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
We get rid of unbelief and doubt through prayer and fasting. That equips us with power to drive out even the most stubborn of demons. But, living a fasted life, is better than just fasting once off. Demonic powers recognize a life of prayer and fasting.

Godliness with Contentment – is great gain
1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. The steadiness of soul that results from a life of contentment in God, is something only a believer in Jesus Christ can enjoy.

Knowing God’s Will, and asking accurately
Understand that there is a process involved when seeking God’s will on a subject.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We must first present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice – placing our lives on the altar helps to kill sensual desires and quieten the voice of the flesh and demonic influence.
We then cease to be conformed according to the spirit of the world’s standards, and become transformed by God’s standards, resulting in the renewal of our minds. When we start to think differently, God’s thoughts are planted in our hearts and minds through the Word of God preached and received by faith. This is where we start to prove the will of God for our lives.

Jam 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Jam 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.

It becomes easier to believe God will answer when we ask in prayer, as we know God’s will about a subject. Wavering after we have asked in prayer, I tantamount to digging up a seed sown before it germinates and grows.

So believe and Don’t Doubt

Become willing and obedient, and you will eat the good of the Land
Isa 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
Isa 1:20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Through faith and patience you will inherit the promises of God in your life
Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The time spent waiting on God, enlarges our capacity to receive His promises. We are stretched because we don’ see immediate results, but the exercise of our faith, expands and increases our expectancy and ultimate capacity to receive from God, knowing that He alone brings increase, not our own plans and schemes.