Expecting From God (part one)

What do you expect? As we go through life, challenges and disappointments can diminish our expectations. Part of the reason for disappointments we face is that our expectations are in the wrong place. Our expectations are in people and things of this world that often fail us rather than putting our full expectations on God and His word.

Hebrews 11:11 says, “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” Sarah’s expectation was not focused on the promise but on the faithfulness of the One who had given the promise. Here are four areas of expectation that God spoke to me about:

1. EXPECT TO BE REWARDED AS YOU DILIGENTLY SEEK THE LORD. “God is a rewarded of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6). Are you in hot pursuit of God? Above the noise of the crowd blind Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus until Jesus heard and responded. How desperate are you for God to intervene in your life? Jesus exhorted us to ask, seek, and knock.

2. EXPECT TO SEE EVIDENCE OF A PROGRESSIVE MIRACLE IN YOUR LIFE.  “With God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27)  We need to be clear in our expectation of God. Jesus asked blind Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” What exactly do you want from God? Be responsive to what God asks you to do. Restoration is often a process, a plan. Step by step God’s work in us is a progressive work.

3. EXPECT GOD TO KEEP HIS PROMISES. 2 Corinthians 1:20-22

“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”

Num 23:19

"God is not a man, that He should lie,

Nor a son of man, that He should repent.

Has He said, and will He not do?

Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

4. EXPECT THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE ALWAYS IN HIS TEMPLE. “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you”. (John 14:15-18)

Get into God’s word and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in your expectations. Allow Him to pray through you and empower you to walk out the abundant life that God has for you.

Andy Clark

Look for part two of this teaching next week, Results of Expectation.