The Power of Expectation – Rev Funke Ewuosho

“To expect means to look forward to, to regard as likely to happen, to anticipate the occurrence or the coming of, to look for with reason or justification.”

The man at the Gate Beautiful gave Peter his attention, “expecting to receive something from them.” (Acts 3:5). Though he was expecting to receive alms, he got more than that- he got his legs walking and leaping! A lot of people don’t get anything because they expect nothing. Though God usually goes beyond our expectations (He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above what we ask or think- Eph. 3:20), He still needs our expectations to work with. He said His thoughts towards us are of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Jer. 29:11). David asked, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel?” (1 Sam. 17:26). Though David fought against Goliath to remove the reproach from Israel, he looked forward to the reward also! The Bible says, “the ploughman ought to plough in hope, and the thresher ought to thresh in expectation of partaking of the harvest.” (1 Cor. 9:9-10 AMP). God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb. 11:6). He said, “I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain”;” (Isa. 45:19). The Amplified Bible is more explicit, “I did not call the descendants of Jacob [to a fruitless service], saying, Seek Me for nothing [but I promised them a just reward].” No wonder in Malachi 3:14, when the people said it was useless to serve God and wasn’t of any profit that they have kept His ordinance, God said their words were harsh against Him! He said He was going to make a difference between the righteous and the wicked; between one who serves Him and one who doesn’t. God has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. (Psa. 35:27). Through religious spirits, Satan has lied to people that there are no benefits in serving God and that it’s wrong to serve God expecting benefits; but nothing could be further from the truth than that! The Bible says, “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies,” (Deut. 28:47-48). The NLT says, “If you do not serve the Lord your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received.”

On the one hand, this seems to explain why some people have lost their joy and enthusiasm in their service to God; they have no expectations of any benefits from Him. It also infers that God, indeed, has and does give benefits! The psalmist told his soul not to forget God’s benefits and he went on to list them: “Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psa. 103:3-5). Also, “So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfil the number of your days.” (Exo. 23:25-26). And, “But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from Me. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Isa. 54:17 NLT). When we serve or seek God, we can therefore expect these and other benefits He promised us. Jesus said when we give, fast and pray, (as we should), and our Father who sees in secret will reward us openly. (Matt. 6:1-4,6,17-18). Truly, God didn’t ask us to seek Him in vain! Cornelius was a devout and God-fearing man who gave alms generously and prayed to God always. He was told by an angel in a vision that his prayers and alms have come up for a memorial before God. (Acts 10:1-4). The prayers of the saints are offered as incense before His throne (Revelations 5:8;8:3-4), so, they can’t be forgotten.

The Bible says, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” (Jas 5:16c NIV). Hannah prayed and made a vow asking for a male child from the Lord “and the Lord remembered her.” In the process of time she conceived and bore a son whom she named Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.” (1 Sam. 1:19-20). Zacharias was told by the angel that his prayer was heard and his wife Elizabeth was going to have a son that will be named John. (Lk 1:13-14). God never forgets our prayers and our gifts, or anything we do in service to Him, even when we or others have long forgotten; because they are before Him for a memorial! The Bible says, by faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, and through it he being dead still speaks. (Heb. 11:4). Paul said the gift the Philippians sent to him was a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Php.4:1819).

Hope (expectation) is the cornerstone of Christianity. The Bible has a lot to say about our spiritual hope which, most unfortunately, many have lost sight of! (1 Cor. 15:19). First and foremost is the hope of spending eternity with the Lord! (1 Thess. 4:17). We were saved in the hope of the redemption of our body. (Rom. 8:23-24). The Bible says we shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. (1 Cor. 15:51-52). As children of God, we have the hope that we shall be like Him when He is revealed, for we shall see Him as He is. This hope has the power to purify us, if we would retain it in us. (1 Jn.1:2-3). We were born “again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven” for us. (1 Pet. 1:3-4). Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesians that the eyes of their understanding being enlightened; may know what is the hope of God’s calling. (Eph. 1:17-18).

The Bible says when we were without Christ, we were also without hope and without God in the world, but, praise God, we now have Christ. (Eph. 2:11-13). This implies we now have hope and are with God in this world! Hope in Christ isn’t therefore, only in the life to come, that is, in the sweet by and by; but also in this present life. The Bible says “training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” (1 Tim. 4:8b NLT). The righteous shall also be rewarded on earth. (Prov. 11:31). “The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” (Prov. 10:22 NLT). The man who fears the Lord and walks in His ways is blessed; and those blessings are also here in this life! (Psa. 112, 128). The word translated as hope in the Old Testament means expectation; something yearned for and anticipated eagerly; something for which one waits. It comes from the verb meaning “to wait for” or “to look hopefully” in a particular direction. Its original meaning was “to stretch like a rope.” In Joshua 2:18,21, it’s translated “line” or “cord” where Rahab was instructed to tie a scarlet (cord or rope) in her window as her HOPE for rescue. In Hosea 2:15, God’s blessing on His land will transform the Valley of Achor (“trouble”) into the “door of hope.” The psalmist said, “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” (Psa. 126:1,6 NIV).

To get the message: “The Power of Expectation” please contact us: office@uk.fowm.org