What are you expecting?
If you’re expecting nothing, THAT is what you will get. Why?
Expectation=Faith
No expectation=No faith
Some think it is inappropriate to expect something from God. Even sacrilegious. So let’s look at what faith is to help us understand biblical expectation.
What is faith? The Bible defines faith in Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Another translation says, “Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.”
Right away, we can see that faith is having certainty. But first comes hope-a positive anticipation of something in the future. But Faith is having certainty of what we hope for and the evidence of it, even while we still do not see it. How can you have faith (expectation) for something you cannot see? Because you know God has promised it in His Word and you believe it with your heart!
One of my favorite ministers, Barry Bennett puts it this way. “Your expectation is a greater measure of your faith than your knowledge is.” Why? Because we can know that God has promised something in His Word, even be able to quote the King James Version of a scripture that promises it, but still not have the expectation to receive it.
The bible says it’s with the heart man believes (Romans 10:10).
How did we receive salvation? By grace, God has given us salvation, right? Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, but we had to have faith in what Jesus did on our behalf to receive it. We could not earn it, deserve it or work for it in any way. But if we believed it, we received it. If we did not expect that God’s Word about salvation was true, we would not have faith to receive it.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Why do we believe? Because we EXPECT that it is true.
What if you had a child and you promised to take him to Disney World for his birthday. Would it be disrespectful of him to want to know all the details; when you will go, what you will see..? Of Course not! If he believes your word, he will expect to go. Even if his friends told him he isn’t going, he would NOT believe them. It doesn’t matter that he isn’t in Disney World right then, he knows that he knows that it’s happening. It’s so true to him that he might even start packing! He’s simply expecting that what you told him is true! Wouldn’t you be happy about that? It is the same way with our Father. He wants us to take Him at His Word. He wants us to believe Him enough to expect that what He says is the truth. He wants to bless us! What if your child came home from school one day and said, “I know you told me we were going to Disney World, but my friends say we’re not, so I don’t believe you anymore?” That would break your heart. You want to bless your child and see him excited about what you want to do for him, but instead he unpacks his bags and forgets about it. It breaks our Father’s heart to see His children not being able to partake of His lavish grace that He has given us in Christ.
2 Peter 1:3-4 says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
All of His love, mercy, provision for our every need, healing, deliverance is there for us by His grace. But He can’t make us believe. We have to take Him at His Word. We have to trust the word of our Father over the naysayers, the critics, and even the temporal circumstances. He wants our expectation to be in Him, amen.
Psalm 62:5 My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him.
I want to share one more scripture about faith because faith is NOT ‘believing that whatever happens comes from God or is His will.’ Faith has a source. It comes from knowing God’s will. Faith begins where the will of God is known. If you don’t know what His will is, you can simply go to the Bible, especially the New Testament, and find out. It pleases God when we expect His Word to be true!
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
We’re not twisting God’s arm. We’re not demanding anything of God, because He has already given us everything through Christ. We by faith, have confidence in His Word for us. That confidence causes us to expect to receive. Without this confidence, the devil will convince you that God’s Word isn’t true. Just like the little boy who let his friends convince him that he isn’t going to Disney world.
Faith can only appropriate what God has already provided by His grace. But many people don’t know the promises of God and therefore don’t have an expectation to receive.
My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. John 15:8
What is this fruit? Anything we ask after abiding in Him. That is where we get our confidence!
John 15:5, 7-8 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit… If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Amen