What Did You Expect?

Psalm 62:5-7

“[5] My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation [is] from Him. [6] He only [is] my rock and my salvation; [He is] my defense; I shall not be moved. [7] In God [is] my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, [And] my refuge, [is] in God”. [NKJV]

Are you expecting today? Are you anticipating something from the Lord? I’m here today to let you know that if you are expecting something – you will receive it. But if you are expecting nothing…. You will receive it! If you expect something today – I hope that your expectation comes from the Lord Himself!

It is time that the Church of the Living God began to ELEVATE THEIR EXPECTATIONS!

What is it that you are expecting today? Or ARE you expecting nothing? Either way, you can have what you expect!

Just after the Apostle Paul was imprisoned for preaching the Gospel – and just as he was facing impending death for doing so - he wrote a letter to the church of Philippi and said this:

“[19] …For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, [20] according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. [21] For to me, to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain.” Philippians 1:19-21 [NKJV]

Notice what he says there – “I know this will turn out (or turn around) for my deliverance through your prayers & through the supply of the Spirit of God-according to my earnest expectation!”

His expectation was deliverance!

The word ‘deliverance’ Paul uses there is debated often. And I’m not sure why because all you have to do is go to the original Greek text. Some say Paul was confident that God would keep him healthy enough to live out the remainder of his years in prison – healthy – but in prison. That’s ridiculous – because that would imply God only gets ½ the job done! The Greek text for the word ‘deliverance’ there that Paul used is translated as ‘salvation.’

But that-to me – isn’t even the real message of Paul’s statement. To me it is what he says ‘after’ that . He said he knows he will be delivered (or saved) because of the Spirit in Him, because of the prayers of the believers… AND… because (or according TO) his earnest expectation and hope!

Walking in the Spirit is enough for certain. The intercession of the saints on your behalf is quite powerful, to say the least. But when you add those 2 things along WITH earnest expectation…. You cannot lose!

Remember our text: “…my expectation is from God!” That’s powerful!

When you translate that phrase “earnest expectation” out of the Greek – it means something quite striking. It means to watch with your head outstretched; to direct attention to something; to wait in suspense for something. But for the Greek words used here – there is a prefix which implicates a plural expectation – in other words – and ongoing, constant, persistent expectation.

When a woman is with child we say she is ‘expecting.’ And as the time gets closer to her due date – her expectation becomes more persistent and grows in intensity.

Just this past week we heard the news of the 5.9 earthquake that shook parts of the East Coast, primarily in the Washington, DC area. Everyone has been watching closely also for a potential hurricane to hit the East Coast as well. First of all, I find it rather interesting that these two potentially life-altering events are hitting close to DC. There’s something spiritually significant to that I’m sure – I’ve not figured it out yet –what that is. But, nonetheless, two events that could both bring potential damage. And the first passage of Scripture I thought of this week was Romans 8:19.

“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” Romans 8:19 [NKJV]

And then skip to verse 22: “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” Romans 8:22

The earth itself is just like that woman in her third trimester. When it’s time to groan with labor pains. The earth is groaning as we speak – waiting eagerly with earnest expectation for the sons of God to be revealed!

What does that mean? That means that even the very universe – all of creation itself has been given an earnest expectation from God – that one day we which are called the Elect will rule and reign over this earth as a new earth, remodeled, refurbished by the power of God Himself! We will rule as kings, as the sons & daughters of the Creator Himself! Even the EARTH is moving under our feet in anticipation! Even the sky is falling before our very eyes in earnest expectation of this great glorious day!