COME UP HIGHER
When God says: For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isa 55:9), He is not 
attempting to get us up under severe condemnation, He is offering an invitation to come up to where His ways and thoughts are so that we can know those ways and have those thoughts. Why would He do otherwise when going up to His ways and thoughts will bring glory to His name and cause the Kingdom to advance in the earth? He is saying that we are not quite there yet but just keep coming. He called Abraham up on top of the mountain and instructed him to “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. (Gen 13:14-15) Abraham had to get his eyes off himself and off his immediate failures and limitations and off the economic condition of the surrounding nations and off the hurts he received in his relationship with Lot. He had to lift his eyes to the Word of God, to the promises of God. Look up from where you are and get your eyes on the victories of the risen Christ and… what you can see, your children will inherit (Gen 13:15).
(This is the ninth excerpt from Marty’s SEEC Magazine article, “The Word Is Mighty In You.”)
The Degree Of Influence We Have
The Degree Of Influence We Have
Seasonally, individuals and entities must re-evaluate the type and degree of influence we have upon culture and adjust for the coming season (Gen 13:14-17; Acts 9:1-6; 10:11-15). Enlarge the 
place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; (Isa 54:2 KJV) It is obvious (by consideration of God’s nature [creative, growth, maturity, increase] and by Scriptural principle) that God desires each of our spheres of influence to increase. It is also obvious that some degree of effort and participation on our part is expected by the terms used in v.2: enlarge, stretch, spare not, lengthen, strengthen. While I do realize that this portion of Scripture was written to Israel concerning the building up of Jerusalem, I do not discount it because it was also written and preserved for us today; and the nature and principles of our Lord are timeless (Rom 15:4; 1Co 10:11).
“And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; 15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.” (Gen.13:14-15,NKJV)
(This is the second in a series by Marty entitled “Your Sphere of Influence,” an article taken from SEEC Magazine.)
Marty will be speaking at the 6th Annual Concerning The Kingdom Conference March 6-8. For more info: martygabler.com/ctk-conference. To see a short video about CTK2013 go to the YouTube link: http://youtu.be/EH1cGlijfF8
Click here to listen to an audio excerpt of Dr. Crum’s teaching on “Royal Dynasty”:
http://martygabler.podomatic.com/entry/2013-02-21T11_06_35-08_00
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