God Enlarges our Tent and Influence

God Enlarges our Tent and Influence

Hadassah of Hadasity mentioned how the word tent came to her as she did her carnival collection for her products. She then wrote this poem with the word ‘tent’ in it, which she put in the product description:

“Welcome to,
Hadasity’s Carnival Event!
May you be filled with JOY,
As you enter this Tent! ⛺️ 🎉

Soon after, I came across the word ‘tent’ twice, and I would send her these ‘sightings’ until I realised probably God was speaking to me about tents too!

Enlarge the place of your tent,
And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings;
Do not spare;
Lengthen your cords,
And strengthen your stakes.

For you shall expand to the right and to the left,
And your descendants will inherit the nations,
And make the desolate cities inhabited.

Isaiah 54:2–3 (NKJV)

I have long prepared a set of Shema Rhema bottles to distribute during my church’s monthly young adult (YA) meeting in the first week of September. However, the pastors later decided it was not a good time and postponed the distribution to October. It was only later during the period when God was speaking to me about tents that I found out the theme of the YA meeting in October was ‘Enlarging our Tents‘. I pieced the puzzle together and realised the bottles would be distributed at this tent meeting!

The story continues. Days before the meeting, the pastor in charge asked if I would like to record a video message for the young adults. I did and here’s an excerpt of the speech I wanted to say (without memory lapses and filler words):

When Pastor asked me to record a video message for you, my first thought was to reject him. I had wanted to stay low profile but then this pastor I interviewed for Shema Rhema came to mind. After retirement, he decided to steward his talents and gifts by saying yes to ministry opportunities.

Then I saw this video message as an opportunity to bless someone. What harm can I do by saying yes – except probably to get some haters. So I decided to say yes God.

If today, you also have an opportunity or a promotion opening up for you, take it. Of course, that’s if you prayed about it and have peace. Remember God wants to enlarge your tent so that more people can come in and be blessed by the presence of God you carry. God will enlarge your tent so that others can be blessed.

When your tent is enlarged it also means your influence is enlarged. Everyone is an influencer, be it online or offline. I used to think that I don’t have much influence as a stay at home mum. What influence am i talking about when I stay at home most days. But just this past weekend, I saw how God expanded my sphere of influence as I had many chances to connect with the parents of my children’s friends.

More importantly sometimes our influence is not big on quantity but deep in quality. Like all parents, I have the power to influence my children deeply, so deep that I might actually influence the next two to three generations.

Even if you are not a parent, or an online influencer, you have our own sphere of influence – at home with your parents or at work with your colleagues. We can even influence people on the streets – do we scold when someone knock into us or do we smile and say it’s ok. Your response might just influence the person’s whole day. Or how about a hello to the bus driver or the cleaning auntie in your office?

This message came to mind when Pastor asked if I wanted to record a video message. So I believe God wants someone in the audience to hear this.

I pray that as your influence and tents are enlarged, you will have the love and wisdom to invite people to enter your tent and sit in God’s presence. May you see yourself as an influencer with an enlarged tent. In Jesus name, amen!


I only remembered to ask the pastor four days later if they had taken any photos of the bottles during the event. They didn’t. 🙁

About an hour later, the person in charge of the praying parents’ group at my girl’s school texted me. She asked if I was interested in sharing a word during next week’s Zoom prayer session.

My first thought again was to reject. I know this is fear because I was soon reminded of Ps Kenny’s word to say yes to ministry opportunities. I didn’t feel confident in sharing, especially through Zoom. Then I saw how God was gently guiding me up the steps – one step at a time. As I was recording the video message for the young adults, I did a few takes and thought, thank goodness this was not a Zoom meeting. Doing a live sharing is even harder than a recorded one.

As I was considering sharing over Zoom, I chanced upon this prophetic word titled ‘Occupy & Advance‘. It talked about enlarging the tent!

October: A Month of Opportunity, Occupying, and Advancing (Click arrow to read an excerpt of the prophetic word)

“October will be a month of opportunity. Have eyes to see and ears to hear! There will be shaking and shifting, but do not fear! Many will fear the shaking and shifting and make poor decisions.

“I am calling you to your marching orders of obedience. Go when I say go, move when I say move, step where I say step… even if the fullness of the picture is still incomplete. There will be signs and confirmations that this is of Me. Promotion and increase are at hand! I am with you and My hand of favor and blessing rests upon you.

“I am calling you to occupy and advance in the month of October. You have faced much resistance against that which I have promised you. However, I am clearing the way and removing the obstacles so that you can occupy! Things are about to accelerate faster than you have previously experienced.

“Fear not! My grace and anointing are upon you to navigate this next season. Look not to the past, for I am calling you to pioneer something new. I will be your compass. I will continue to open up the way before you. New doors of opportunity are soon coming, and you will occupy and advance in October!”

Enlarge the place of your tent; stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; lengthen your cords and strengthen your pegs. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left. And your descendants will possess nations and will resettle the desolate cities.” (Isaiah 54:2–3, NASB 1995)

“My Bride, I am calling you to occupy, rule, and reign from your rightful place of authority! Your identity is in Me! You are seated with Me in heavenly places. Whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatsoever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven (Matthew 18:18).

No more sidelines! This is your time to step into your rightful identity as kings and priests! It is time to occupy and advance with Me,” says the Lord of hosts!

Source: Jeff and Angie Stolba: “Occupy & Advance: A Changing of the Guard in October”(Elijahlist.com)


It’s funny how a decade ago, I envisioned myself standing on stage to share God’s word. But now I am bound up in fear when given a small chance to share over a video recording and Zoom. It sounds exciting that God is enlarging our tents, but I soon realised it also requires our faith and courage to step out of our comfort zone. After all, we are conquering new territories that we haven’t been before.

I was reminded of this bible verse:

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying,
“Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

I Chronicles 4:10 (NKJV)

Even after I took a night to consider whether to share during Zoom, I was still hesitant in the morning. Then on my Youtube feed, I saw this video titled ‘Step Out and Possess the Land’ by Ps Joseph Prince. I listened to the excerpt of the sermon in the beginning and these were the words, “If you don’t possess what’s yours, the world will possess it. Whatever you don’t possess, the enemy takes over. You’ll never what you have lost, because of shirking your responsibility, and evading duties. Don’t just know about it, possess your possessions!”

So I decided again to quench my fear by saying yes in faith.

Is God enlarging your tent and waiting for your yes too?


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