“Great Expectations”
Acts 3:5 “And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.”
I want to talk to you tonight about the Spirit of Expectancy. If I were to put a title to this message it would be the title of a book by Charles Dickens called “Great Expectations.”
There is an old saying that goes prayer is the key but faith unlocks the door and that is a true statement; however, expectations is what drives you to walk through that door, WHY, because I am expecting to receive something on the other side.
If you were to read from the 1st down through the 8th verse you would find that there was a man that had been lame from his mother’s womb, some commentators say that this man was over 40 years old and everyday he was carried to the gate of the temple which is called beautiful (not able to go in, but at the gate of)to ask of alms, in other words to beg for money. However on this particular day he focused upon Peter and John and he stopped them and asked alms of them.
Then Peter said “look on us” and he gave heed (he was obedient) and expected to receive something of them. Peter said Silver and gold have I none, but that which I have I give in the name of Jesus Christ. The man was expecting something, he had the spirit of expectancy and because of his spirit of expectancy God did exceeding abundantly above all he could ask or think.
He asked for alms (money), but was given instructions and he was obedient to those instructions and he expected something. 3 things this man did in order to receive what he got from the Lord.
We must understand the power and the importance of 3. The #3 means fullness. Father, Son, Holy Ghost Death, Burial, Resurrection Body, Soul, Spirit, there are 3 things needed to start a fire, you need fuel, heat, oxygen remove any of those you will never have a fire.
Because this man had the power of 3 - He Asked, He Obeyed, & He Expected = God did exceeding abundantly above all he could ask or think. He asked for alms, obedient to the word, expecting to receive something and God gave him not money, but the ability to walk, he received the ability to have his own job, he received the ability to help someone else Why because he expected something, he had the spirit of expectancy.
Baby you may have asked God for something in your life, you may have asked him to give you some money to pay your bills this month, but God said ask in my name, be obedient to my word, and expect something and watch me blow your mind. You want me to pay your bills, but I’m getting ready to take you completely out of debt, WHY because I’m able to do exceeding abundantly above your imaginations. You asked me for a job, I’m going to give you your own business, you want me to heal a head-ache, but I’m getting ready to remove a tumor. You asked me to keep you from having to have surgery, but I’m getting ready to restore unto you the things that the years have taken away, but I need you to expect it.
Jeremiah 29:11 says “I know the thoughts I have toward you, thoughts of Peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” I want to pour you out a blessing so great that you don’t even have room to receive it all, but you must have the 3 elements.
You must ask it the name of Jesus.
You must be obedient to His Will and His Word.
You must have the spirit of expectancy.
What is faith - it is the Spirit of Expectancy. I’m expecting a miracle everyday. If you want God to do something in your life in 2004, if you want to go to another level, if you want healing, deliverance, happiness, financial freedom, if you want that house, that job, that husband saved, that wife saved. Then baby get hold of the spirit of expectancy, be obedient to His Word and say like the Clark Sisters said I Expect A Miracle Everyday.
Elder Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
Boanerge Ministries.
