2026: The Year of Breaking Boundaries and Obtaining Increase

Written By Pastor Leo T Mukumba

Theme Scripture:

Genesis 26:12-14: ¹² And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him, ¹³ and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy. ¹⁴ He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him.

Luke 5:4-7: ³ Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. ⁴ And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” ⁵ And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” ⁶ And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. ⁷ They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

1. Introduction

As we enter into this new year, we find ourselves standing on the brink of a divine breakthrough, a season where God calls us to break boundaries and obtain increase. This is not just a theme for the year, but a divine command to enlarge our vision, deepen our faith, and boldly step into new territories with the unwavering expectation that God will do far more than we could ever imagine.

In Genesis 26:12-14, we see God’s promise of increase to Isaac despite the famine, a season of scarcity. Isaac’s harvest was not limited by external circumstances, but by his obedience to God's command. Similarly, in Luke 5:3-7, we witness the miraculous catch of fish, where the disciples, after a night of failure, obeyed the simple instruction of Jesus to cast their nets once more, and what they received was beyond their wildest expectations, net-breaking, boat-sinking increase.

This year, God calls us to move beyond our limitations, to operate in faith and obedience, and to expect radical increase, even in the most challenging of seasons. Just like Isaac, who sowed in famine and reaped a hundredfold, and Peter, who obeyed Jesus’ seemingly impossible command, we too will experience God's abundant increase in our lives if we trust Him fully.

2. Understanding Genesis 26 and Luke 5

Genesis 26:12-14

In this passage, Isaac sows in a land that is experiencing famine. Naturally, sowing during a time of scarcity is not only impractical but nearly impossible. Yet Isaac’s obedience to God’s command brings about an extraordinary harvest, one hundredfold, to be precise. The land that was supposed to yield nothing becomes fertile ground for blessing because of God’s faithfulness to His covenant. The word "hundredfold" in the Hebrew is symbolic of abundant blessing, representing the miraculous nature of God's provision.

Luke 5:3-7

Here, we find Peter, a seasoned fisherman, facing a night of failure. He and his partners had caught nothing despite toiling all night. When Jesus steps into his boat and asks him to cast the nets once again, Peter responds with a hint of reluctance but obeys nonetheless. The result? A catch so great that their nets began to break. This miraculous event not only changed the course of Peter’s life but also ushered him into partnership with Jesus in the work of the Kingdom.

In both narratives, there is a common thread: obedience leads to increase. Isaac’s harvest and Peter’s catch were the result of stepping beyond human understanding and obeying God’s directive in faith.

3. Breaking Boundaries and Obtaining Increase

Genesis 26:12-14: Boundaries Replaced by Divine Providence

In the Hebrew text, the word karev is used, which implies the providence of God acting on behalf of His people. Isaac’s decision to sow during famine was an act of faith, trusting that God would not only provide for him but bless him abundantly. God’s provision did not come as a result of Isaac’s efforts alone, but through the grace of God; His divine enablement.

God was not simply adding to Isaac’s wealth; He was expanding Isaac's capacity for influence and fruitfulness. The increase was not just in material wealth but in the expansion of Isaac’s life and legacy, through his faithfulness to God's covenant. This is the kind of increase that God promises to us, not just limited to our financial resources but to every area of our lives, including relationships, ministries, and personal growth.

Luke 5:3-7: Obedience and Partnership Lead to Net-Breaking Increase

The miracle in Luke 5 occurred when Peter was willing to trust Jesus' word, even though his natural instincts told him it would not work. The Greek word for "break" (schizo) used here emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the catch, the increase was so great that it broke the nets, a symbol of God’s abundant provision.

This story illustrates the power of obedient partnership. Peter could have refused, but his willingness to act in faith led to a partnership with Jesus that resulted in a net-breaking catch. Likewise, when we partner with God in faith, His increase will overflow in ways we cannot contain. This is the type of increase that God is calling us to expect: increase that goes beyond our ability to manage, forcing us to rely on His providence and to partner with others in the process.

4. Faith and Obedience: The Keys to Breaking Boundaries

Breaking boundaries and obtaining increase requires unwavering faith and radical obedience. Faith is the belief in God’s ability to do what we cannot, and obedience is the act of responding to His call, even when the outcome is uncertain.

• Faith allows us to see beyond our limitations. It believes that God's promises are true and that He will bring them to pass.

• Obedience is the action that aligns our lives with His will. When we obey, even when it seems unreasonable, God moves on our behalf.

• In Genesis 26:12-14, the Hebrew word ‘āśāh (to do, make) reveals that Isaac’s actions were not just about sowing seeds but about doing what God asked of him, despite the circumstances.

• In Luke 5:5, the Greek word epitimao (to command or rebuke) illustrates Jesus' authority. When we obey God’s command, we step into His divine authority, where the miraculous happens.

When we combine faith with obedience, we break the boundaries that limit us and create space for God to increase us.

Principles for Breaking Boundaries: Faith, Obedience, and Strategic Action

• Faith is the foundation for breaking boundaries. Without faith, we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6).

• Obedience is the expression of faith. When we obey God’s word, we position ourselves for increase (Luke 11:28).

• Strategic Action is necessary. God does not reward inactivity. Isaac sowed, and Peter cast his net. We must take action in alignment with God’s word.

May the Lord give us the Fisherman’s Faith. Imagine a fisherman who casts his nets day after day with little to show for his efforts. Yet, one day, he throws out his nets in obedience to a command, and they return filled to the brim. This is what happens when we obey God despite the disappointments of the past.

Your faith is a deposit in the Bank of Heaven. When you sow in faith, you are making an investment in God’s kingdom. The return may not be immediate, but when it comes, it will be more than you could ever imagine, net-breaking increase.

Just as a farmer sows seeds expecting a harvest, so must we sow seeds of faith, obedience, and action. Our harvest will come in due season (Galatians 6:9).

Our God is a God of expansion. As He blesses and prospers His people, the boundaries of limitation are shattered. This year, you are about to experience increase beyond what you could imagine.

God is a God of Expansion

Our God is not just a God of small blessings but of boundless increase. In Micah 2:13, we read: "The One who breaks open will come up before them…"

The Hebrew word for "breaker" here is parats (פָּרַץ), meaning to burst forth and overflow beyond limits. This is the nature of our God: He is the Breaker of Boundaries. Whether financial, emotional, or spiritual stagnation, God is breaking through every barrier that stands in your way this year.

Psalm 18:29 says: "By my God, I can leap over a wall." This year, you will leap over walls, not crawl beneath them.

Boundaries Exist, But They Are Not Final

Boundaries may exist in your life, but they are not final. Isaiah 10:27 declares: "The yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing." Boundaries may come in many forms; fear, oppression, limiting circumstances, but they are not permanent. The anointing of God destroys the yoke and breaks through the limitations. This year, declare:

• What stopped me last year will not stop me this year.

• What limited me will bow before the power of God.

• What confined me will break open.

Isaiah 54:2–3 says: "Enlarge the place of your tent… lengthen your cords… strengthen your stakes." Prepare for the expansion that God is bringing. He is about to stretch your boundaries, and you must make room for the increase.

Increase is God’s Idea, Not Man’s Ambition

In Genesis 26:12-14, Isaac sowed in a time of famine, and God caused him to reap a hundredfold that very year. This wasn’t because the circumstances were right, but because God’s covenant faithfulness ensured his prosperity. Increase does not depend on your situation; it depends on God's divine ability and His covenant with His people.

Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us: "It is He who gives you the power to get wealth."

This scripture shows that increase comes from God. Isaac’s prosperity was a result of God’s divine enablement, not his own skill or the season he was in. Increase is God’s idea, and He is the One who blesses His people with abundant harvests, even in famine.

Expansion Requires Preparation

Isaiah 54:2–3 challenges us to: "Enlarge the place of your tent… make room before a move."

Before the increase comes, we must prepare. This preparation involves:

• Faith: Believe God for the impossible.

• Thinking: Expand your mindset, believe that God is capable of exceeding your expectations.

• Obedience: Align your actions with God’s Word and His call.

Proverbs 4:18 says: "The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter…"

This year, let your faith lead you to increase. Prepare for the abundance that is on its way.

New Territories Are Assigned This Year

In Joshua 1:3, God promises: "Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you." God is assigning new territories to His people this year. But to possess them, you must first see them. Vision precedes expansion. In Genesis 13:14-17, God told Abraham: "Lift your eyes now and look… for all the land which you see I give to you."

This year, God is calling us to open our eyes and see the new territories He is assigning to us, both individually and as a church.

This Is a Year of Overflow and Not Just Enough

In Luke 5:4-6, Peter obeyed Jesus’ command to launch out into the deep and cast his nets once more. Like I said before the result was a net-breaking, boat-sinking catch of fish. This year, God wants to bless you with not just enough, but an overflow.

Ephesians 3:20 declares: "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…" God’s desire is for you to experience more than you can imagine, an overflow of His blessings in every area of your life.

Conclusion

As we step into this year, the theme of breaking boundaries and obtaining increase challenges us to push beyond our comfort zones. God is calling us to act in faith, to obey His commands, and to expect increase that surpasses our understanding.

Isaiah 54:2 says, "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes." This is God’s invitation to us, to stretch beyond our limitations and expect great things. His desire is for us to break through barriers, enter into a season of increase, and partner with Him in the work He is doing on the earth.

As we step into this year with bold faith, may we see the net-breaking, boat-sinking increase that God has promised. Let us pray for courage, for obedience, and for the faith to step out into the deep waters that He is calling us to.

We declare that by faith, we will step beyond every limitation and experience the increase You have promised. We ask for the strength to obey You fully, even when it seems difficult or impossible. Fill our hearts with a vision for what You want to do in and through us, and help us to partner with You in faith. We declare that this year will be marked by supernatural increase in every area of our lives; spiritually, financially, and relationally. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.