Expectations

Expectation. Hebrews 11:1-2, 6NKJV

What are you expecting? One thing I do know if you expect nothing you’ll hit that mark every time!

Jonathan Edwards 1703-1758— “Persons need not and ought not to set any bounds to their spiritual and gracious appetites, [instead they ought] to be endeavoring by all possible ways to inflame their desires and to obtain more spiritual pleasures…

Our hungering, and thirsting after God and Jesus Christ and after holiness can’t be too great for the value of these things, for they are things of infinite value…[Therefore] endeavor to promote spiritual appetites by laying yourself in the way of allurement…There is no such thing as excess in our taking of this spiritual food. There is no such virtue as temperance in spiritual feasting.”

The writer of Hebrews reminds us one thing that hasn’t changed and that is faith—Having faith in God—the unseen.

Hebrews 11:1-2NKJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

Who were some of those elders? Abraham, Noah, Moses, Rahab, Sarah Etc.

You’ll be in good company!

Hebrews 11:6NKJV 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.

Think about it, I can’t please God without faith. Therefore, Faith is my substance of things hoped for…

Again, as a believer, “Your faith becomes your substance.”

For instant, If our faith—Is always our substance for seeing folks saved, restored and delivered—guess what? We shall have it.

Remember this, “Faith is a thought-style before it becomes a life-style.”

Maybe your faith is your substance to prosper in business. —“I say, keep your faith in God and keep your faith wrapped around your dream.” P.H

What is expectation…For the believer its acting as if your miracle has already happened.

You say, “God your Word says, ‘That faith gave the elders a good testimony; therefore, the faith I inherited, through Jesus, will produce my on-going testimony.”

Say—“My faith will produce a good report.”

Hebrews 11:6TM It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that He exists and that He cares enough to respond to those who seek him.

I was listening to a 20’s something testimony. He said when he was a teen he considered himself a “christian atheist.” To him a Christian atheist is someone who claims to believe in God, but who lives like He doesn’t exist.

He said, “During those years, I begin to look around and saw everyone else just standing around, and even more sitting, he said, ‘they’re just going through the motions of worship, acting like it was a thing of the past.”

According to the writer of Hebrews 11:6, God rewards those that diligently seek him.

Seeking Jesus becomes ongoing, and in-return, there’s on-going rewards. P.H

Just to name a few—Growth in relationships, Improved lifestyle, greater discernment, fruitful living, a keen awareness to the spiritual gifts, physical prosperity and strong faith others will be drawn to etc.

Isaiah 26:3-4ESV You keep completely safe the people who maintain their faith, for they trust in you. 4 Trust in the Lord from this time forward, even in Yah, the Lord, an enduring protector!

There should be an active pursuit after God. Our Testimonies should be—“Im actively pursuing God.”

The tournament of Roses parade has a long-standing tradition. On New Year’s morning we get to see those elaborate floats—which have taken nearly a year to construct—paraded through the city streets. It quite a show, and it draws the attention of millions around the world.

One year, a stunning float came to a sputtering stop in the middle of the street. It was out of gas! Can you imagine the embarrassment? The entire parade was held up until someone could help them get refueled.

The awkwardness of the moment quickly turned to humiliation as the crowd discovered that the offending float represented the Standard Oil Company. —The company whose business was power, run out of power! Max Lucado, God Came Near: God’s Perfect Gift

Again, Faith becomes the substance of things…hoped for…the evidence…think about it, Your faith becomes evidence.

What is Evidence? Exhibit, testimony, proof refers to information furnished in a legal investigation to support a contention. Evidence is any information so given, whether furnished by witnesses or derived from documents or from any other source.

Hearsay evidence is not admitted in a trial.

Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the substances…

Substance is costly—It entails dreaming, vision, time, devotion, study, plans, vision-casting to others, writing down the pros, and cons, it involves money, sometimes surveys, and a lot of hard preparation and work.

“Is what you’re holding onto good substance?"