Live in Expectation
Life is meant to be lived with expectation, with faith, and hope; not fear, worry and resignation!
That's what has been stirring me up over the last few weeks.
When I had realized I was falling to the temptation of allowing myself to resign to the fact that nothing good was coming in the next few months, and especially for our nation; that we did not have choices and there was nothing good coming. . . I decided to stand in the promises that God has not called us to live life that way.
I am not going to live with resignation!
This is more than positive thinking and it is more than mind over matter.
It is based on the Word of God.
There are a lot of people that can tell you about positive thinking and mind over matter, but it is founded in God, it is founded in Scripture, its founded in the work that He does through us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We need a power greater than ourselves!
We need anointing greater than us!
We need an infilling greater than us!
You need to say with me, "Today, I say yes, I give God a whole-hearted and definite yes to everything He wants to do. I take my yes position, believing that God will do exactly what he promised, exceeding, abundantly, above all I ask."
Living with expectation means to live with hopes, dreams, imagination, desire; but also knowing that our expectation is founded in the greatness of God.
How great is our God? He's a pretty great God! He's a big deal!
Our expectations is founded in the greatness of our God!
We have seen his greatness on display. Saying yes to our expectations is fertile ground.
Our expectations represent what we are willing to settle for.
This is what I have seen happening among believers concerning our nation.
They were saying, "This is all there is, so I guess there is nothing else."
I am believing and standing for a divine intervention of a supernatural God;
Not just nationally and corporately, but in your life and my life.
We either give God or the enemy ammunition with our words and with our attitude.
So my question to you today is, "Who are we empowering?"
When we walk around all the time saying, "I tell you it's bad and the bad is going to get worse. We don't have any choices." We are empowering the very things we are asking God to supernaturally intervene in.
But when you begin to say, "Oh God, by your Spirit, thank you for raising up; thank you for moving; thank you Father for intervening in the affairs of man. Father I pray for our leaders, for godly leaders, and for a mighty move of your Spirit. Oh God, I see things that look impossible on the outside, but Father, I thank you that you are well able. You are a great God, a mighty God. You are the king of Glory, and Father, you can do it in our nation and you can do it in my life."
This is empowering the God of miracles to do something. If you need the God of miracles to do something in your life, shout AMEN!
God is Calling Us to Opportunity
God is calling us to go through doors of opportunity that many of us have not seen yet.
Doors of opportunity in our personal life, in our family life, our business, our relationships, our church, our ministry.
Revelation 3:8
I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
I believe this is a promise for someone today, who will reach out and take it.
Hold on to Expectation
We are moving in expectation, not with anxiety, but we are those who are believing, standing with hope and not despair.
You need to tell yourself, "It's coming. . .dig some ditches. . .Dig some ditches. . .carry some water."
What I am trying to do is to stir you up to not lose your expectation.
If you lose your expectation, you lose your potential for a miracle.
There is no harder atmosphere to preach in than an atmosphere where nobody, excuse my grammar:
Don't expect noth'n. . .Don't believe noth'n. . .
Don't expect anything good to happen,
Not expecting to hear anything good,
Just want to go through the motions and get it over with.
But put a preacher in a house where there is someone sitting on the edge of their seat say, "Give me a word from God; tell me something that God has said." It is a dangerous place to put a preacher in, he will hurt himself or somebody. This atmosphere will pull stuff out of the preacher, they did not know they had. It all comes from somebody being excited about something that God is doing.
If the enemy stills everything you have but he does not still your expectation, you are going to have a comeback.
Romans 8:28-31
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to be] conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [can be] against us?
Because all things work to my good. . .He called me. . .He justified me. . .What am I going to say to these things. . .
Has anyone every had things come against you? What shall you say to these things?
If God be for us. . .Who can be against us?
That means I live in expectation even when I am walking through things I don't understand;
Even when it does not seem like things are going to work out:
Even when hardships come my way; even when difficulties come my way!
Even when you get a word from God and it turns out to be a little harder than you thought it was going to be, though you got the word from God.
I know that God can work all things for my good, but it still hurts, it is still difficult, and it is still painful at times. When I am going through it, I know that God can work all things for my good, but it does not mean it does not hurt.
We just recently celebrated Easter. When it was Good Friday, it did not feel good for the disciples. Their lives had fallen apart. Good Friday did not seem like it was good while it was happening.
This is why you have to realize in these seasons God can cause all things to work together for your good, even though Good Friday did not seem like a good Friday, Sunday is coming. . .The resurrections is coming. There is a resurrection coming. . .there is a turnaround coming in your life!
Your Good Friday may not feel like a good Friday, but God is about to show up in your life!
Dig Some Ditches
2nd Kings 3:14-20
14 And Elisha said, "[As] the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you. 15 "But now bring me a musician." Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. 16 And he said, "Thus says the LORD: 'Make this valley full of ditches.' 17 "For thus says the LORD: 'You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.' 18 "And this is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. 19 "Also you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall cut down every good tree, and stop up every spring of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones." 20 Now it happened in the morning, when the grain offering was offered, that suddenly water came by way of Edom, and the land was filled with water.
There were three kings that went into battle.
This battle lasted longer than they thought it was going to last.
Have you ever been involved in a battle and it lasted longer than you though it should?
Because the battle took so long they ran out of water.
Life can be Unpredictable.
So when they had ran out of water they called for Elisha.
Elisha's pastoral skills were about as good as Elijah's were.
Elijah could really mess with people, and this apple did not fall far from the tree when it came to Elisha, he could mess with people also. Because he could see things from a ministry point of view, Elisha said to them, "Oh, OK, now you're looking for the preacher?"
If it had been in our day he would have been saying, "You know, I don't think I have seen you at church in about six months." He is basically say, "If it weren't for Jehoshaphat I would not even be messing with you."
Its human nature to forget God and go on our way until we hit a crisis.
You are just drifting along, doing our thing, and then life troughs you a curve.
Life becomes unpredictable;
The battle lasts longer than you thought;
You get that diagnosis or you lose your job,
Your marriage or relationships start falling apart. . .And then someone realizes they need a word from God. . We need a man of God. . .somebody get Elisha! And hurry!
After Elisha messes with them a little, he gives them a word and tells them, "Thus sayeth the Lord, and he prophecy's by saying, "Make this valley full of ditches."
Then he tells them they won't see wind or rain but by faith, by obedience to the Word of God, I want you to make this valley full of ditches.
And he told them to dig some ditches in some dry places.
Some places where you are not seeing things.
Begin to dig some ditches today with your prayers.
Dig some ditches with your worship. When you are in that dry place where you are not seeing any wind, you're not seeing any rain, and you are not hearing any thunder; and it looks like everything is working against you; then you begin to dig some ditches with you praying, your praise, your worship, and you begin to lift up your hands and declaring that God is glorious, and holy.
This is your shove in the Spirit and you are digging some ditches, you are making a place for the glory of God to fill your life.
What you have to do is get a word from God and dig some ditches in the dry places of your life.
God could have brought water a number of ways.
He could have just made the water appear completely by himself, but God wanted them to be a part of the process. He wants you and I to be a part of the process.
In verse 20 it says, "it happened in the morning". . .
When that great offering was offered. . .when they brought the sacrifice.
When they worshipped. . .Even though they were in a place that seem ridiculous to be digging ditches where there was no sign of rain. . .
As they in obedience brought the sacrifice of offering. . .that SUDDENLY came into their life.
There are some suddenly's coming into your life. . .And you dig ditches so that when the Suddenly's come. . .they have a place to go.
I am digging my ditches so that when my suddenly's come I am able to handle what God wants to do in my life! I am making preparation for the manifestation!!!!!
Suddenly water came by way of Edom.
God can bring it to you through a number of ways you don't expect.
Edom was not an ally of Judah, yet this is how God got water to them.
God can bring you manifestation through that relative that hates you.
God can bring it to you through that boss that is about to drive you crazy.
God can bring it through that person that has been a throne in your side.
He can bring it through that ex-husband or that ex-wife.
He can bring it through the way of Edom, unexpected.
It does not have to come the same way every time.
It does not have to come from the same source every time.
He is the God of unlimited access and he can bring it to you if you will make preparation and get ready.
Don't Waite for the Thunder.
And the land was filled with water.
But some are waiting until they hear the thunder before they start digging.
If they had waited for the thunder, or the clouds, or the lightening, or the rain before they started digging, it would have been too late, and it would have never happened.
It would have never come because it never rained where they were! Yet the water came!
It might not be raining where you are right now, but bless God, it is raining somewhere!
The water is coming!. . .
God has a way of getting it to you when you live in a world of expectation, when you BELIEVE!. . When you stand in faith. . .Dig you some ditches!
It might not be raining where you are, but it is raining somewhere!
It might not be raining in your presence, but it is raining in your future!
It might not be raining in your downstream, but it is raining in your upstream!
Ditches for Personal Growth
It is time to dig ditches of personal growth and faith in our life.
Prepare yourself for what God wants to do in us and through us and among us.
Having an attitude that says I am going to obey God no matter what anyone else does.
I'm going to go whether anyone else goes or not.
Have the faith to prepare for what shall be while you are dealing with what is!
Because BIG things happen when we act in Faith!
I am going to let my prayers dig some ditches in my life.
I am thanking God for things.
I am hearing from Him.
I am going to let my Praise dig some ditches in my Life.
The point is:
Dig some ditches with your praying.
Dig some ditches with your praise and worship.
Dig some ditches with the words that you speak.
Get in agreement with the Almighty God and release the hand of God in your life.
John Chapter One
In John Chapter One there is some of the greatest revelations every pinned for mankind.
As John talks about Jesus in chapter one he says in the beginning there is Jesus.
In the beginning was the Word and the word was with God, the word was God.
Before anything existed, Jesus existed, he is eternal.
John tells us Jesus is God's Word.
He has always been with God and he always will be.
Then John went on to say everything in the world was made through him.
Everything. . .
Every time you see a sunset. .
Every time you see a sunrise. .
Every time you look out over the beautiful water. .
Every time you look at the beauty of creation, you're seeing Jesus. . .you're seeing the spoken Word.
You're seeing the eternal things of God. . .
That is why the cutler and the world can rail against God all they want to,
They can turn their back on him if they want to,
BUT the heavens are going to declare the glory of God,
And you can't escape it. . You can't run away from it. . .His glory is going to be seen.
The President, the Cabinet, the Senate, nobody else can stop it. . .God will rule and reign. . .because this planet belongs to him and shows forth his glory!!! Glory be to God!!!
Everything in the world is made through him.
John goes on to say He is the light that shines in darkness. . .and the darkness can't do anything to stop it.
What we are finding out is Jesus is a pretty BIG DEAL!
Jesus is everything God says and thinks in human form.
This is what John is establishing in Chapter One.
He lives among us. . .We get to see how glorious he is. . .and he is going to show us God's grace and truth. This is important because we need to know that grace and truth has come through his son Jesus.
He's Eternal. . .and He's Divine. . .That's who Jesus is. . .
He is not just another religion.
John really lays it out when he says Moses might have given people their laws, but Jesus is going to show us what God is really all about.
He is Grace and Truth. . .He is God in the flesh. . .Emanuel, God with us.
I took all this time to say all this about Jesus in John Chapter One to show this is the one spending three days in Chapter 2 hanging out at a wedding. Instead of being a king sitting on a throne he took upon himself the form of a servant. The very creator of the universe; the one who put it all in place, is taking time and spending three days at what some might think is a meaningless function. Understand Jesus cares about the details in your life.
John Chapter 2.
Read John 2:1-10.
Mary is a great example of living in expectation.
The enemy wants us to live life settling for a wedding with no wine. . .
A marriage with no love. . .
A life with no money. . .
Existence without health. . .
Relationships without peace. . .
But that was not Mary's attitude.
Declare this today: "In Jesus name, I will not live life in low expectancy!"
If you will notice when Mary spoke to Jesus, he did not say, "Ok Momma, I am fix'n to straighten this all out for you."
She totally ignores what he seemingly said to her and she tells the servants to do whatever he says to do. She completely expected he will solve the problem.
The servants filled the water pots to the brim. They did not hold back because carrying all this water seemed pointless, but they filled them to the brim.
It can be difficult in your life when all it seems like is you are carrying water.
"I need wine, but all I get right now is water."
"I need wine, but all I have is water."
"Right now I might be carrying water, I did what you said, and Lord it is still water right now, but Lord I want you to know I am not about to stop because you are going to change all the water I carry into wine."
I am going to dig me some ditches when there are no clouds in the sky, and I am going to carry me some water when it does not look like wine.
Even when it looks like it is not working, we have to be a people that will say, "Lord at your word I am going to keep carrying that water until you make it turn into wine."
I am going to keep confessing your Word,
I am going to keep standing on this Word,
I am going to keep praying this Word,
I am going to keep confessing healing over my life,
I am going to keep standing in faith and believing that my God is a supernatural God.
I am not going to spend all my time looking in the water pots to see if it has happened.
When you tell me God it is time, then I am going to reach my glass down into that water pot and I am going to start pulling me out a glass of wine and start sharing it with everyone else.
So while you're waiting on the wine, keep carrying that water. . .
I will operate Lord in that dimension where it looks like it's not working, where nothing good was happening, but the day will come Father, when you will take me to another dimension.
You will take me from the dimension of dry ditches. . .
You will take me from the dimension of pots that are filled with nothing but water. . .
I will make preparation with those ditches and those pots.
When you give me a word, I will not fill the pots only part of the way, but I will fill them 'til they overflow, because you always save the best 'til last.
The best wine. . .the best taste. . .the best part in life. . .
God receives glory when you receive all that he has paid for.
Receive his complete and full grace as you continue carrying your water. . .the Wine is Coming!