IT’S TIME FOR us to begin expecting to receive from God. When we are full of expectation, we will see a greater move of the Spirit and a greater manifestation of the things of God. But we have to expect it. If we don’t expect to see it, we won’t see it.
THE LORD ONCE TOLD ME, “THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE IN CHURCH SITTING AROUND AND WAITING. IT’S TIME TO STOP WAITING AND START EXPECTING!”
Many times Christians go to church services hoping they will see something but they are not expecting anything. In fact, it surprises many Christians when something does happen in a service.
Why should we be surprised? If we were expecting to see the supernatural, it shouldn’t shock us when it takes place. If we anticipated great things to happen, we wouldn’t be surprised when they did. We should expect the miraculous.
Mark chapter 5 tells the story of a woman who expected and received a miracle.
MARK 5:25–29 (NKJV)
25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,
26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.
27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.
28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.
The woman with the issue of blood wasn’t just sick; she was dying. She suffered for 12 years and had been to every doctor in the land. No one could help her, and she only became worse. Then one day, she heard about Jesus (v. 27). This woman probably heard testimonies of His healing power.
Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Evidently, this woman had heard that Jesus was anointed to heal. When she learned He was coming to town, she said, “If I can just touch His clothes, I will be healed.”
Regardless of the circumstances, don’t ever stop expecting to receive from God.
This woman expected to be healed when she touched Jesus’ clothes. She didn’t wonder if she would be healed. She didn’t say, “Maybe I will be made whole.” She wasn’t going to “try it out.” She believed and expected to be healed!
Are you expecting God to do something in your life? Maybe people have told you, “You’ll never receive such and such.
Look at your education and your job. Look at your parents and your background. You’re only setting yourself up for disappointment.”
Don’t believe them. When you expect great things from God according to His Word, no one can talk you out of what you desire.
It doesn’t matter where you came from. What’s important is where you’re going. Too many people never arrive at their destination because they’re always looking behind them. Don’t look back. Keep your eyes on what you’re believing God for.
Some Christians think the woman with the issue of blood was healed because she lived when Jesus was on the earth. But it was harder for her to reach Jesus than it is for us to reach Him today. We don’t have to wait for Jesus to come to our town. We don’t have to fight our way through a crowd to reach Him. Jesus is always with us (Heb. 13:5). And He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8), so His power is still available to us today.
Don’t Let Go of Your Expectations
When you ask the Lord to meet your needs, expect them to be met. Even if they aren’t met immediately, or within your time frame, keep standing in faith! God isn’t in the “drive-through window” business. We’re used to placing an order for fast food and receiving it two minutes later. We may receive instant answers from God on occasion, yet some answers don’t always manifest instantly. But if something doesn’t happen right away, that doesn’t mean we should quit believing God.
REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES, DON’T EVER STOP EXPECTING TO RECEIVE FROM GOD. And don’t sit around, either! Put some action to your expectation. The woman in Mark chapter 5 didn’t sit around saying, “If I could touch Jesus’ clothes, I would be whole.” She got up and put action to her faith; she went and found Jesus.
I encourage you to start putting action to whatever you are expecting. And I challenge you to start attending church with an expectation. When we go to church, a conference, or other special services, nothing out of the ordinary will happen unless we expect it to. Nothing will happen unless we go to the service ready to receive from God.
Church services aren’t spectator events. They are expectator events. The success of the service doesn’t depend only on the musicians or the preacher. We all have a part to play. We all have to go to the service expecting and ready to receive from God.
Are you expecting great things from God? Have you prayed and confessed His Word over a particular situation in your life? Ephesians 6:13 says that after we have done all to stand, we must keep standing. Don’t give up. Keep believing. And keep expecting!
Author
Craig W. Hagin
Share this Post