February 2019 - Positive Expectation
My soul, wait thou only on God; for my expectation is from Him. Psalms 62:5
While watching a college football game, I saw the team break from the huddle and line up for the next play. Everything looked normal until I noticed the quarterback had misjudged his position and was lined up behind the guard instead of the center. When he called the play, nothing happened! I had to laugh; he looked up, saw his mistake and made one step to the side. This time, the center released the ball into his hands after the call and the play was executed. Sometimes we need to make some adjustments in our expectation, like that quarterback, so that we can receive answers to prayer and see great things accomplished for God.
4 KINDS OF EXPECTATION
In Psalms 42:5, David spoke to his soul, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God.” Hope is an expectation of good and is a necessary and valuable ingredient in faith. There are four kinds of expectation: negative, misguided, neutral and positive.
When it comes to negative expectation I’m reminded of the guy who was sleeping and someone put limburger cheese under his nose while he slept. When he woke up, he went from room to room trying to find where the stink was coming from. Finally, he went outside, took a deep breath and smelled that same odor and said, “The whole world stinks!” It is a general attitude of negativity.
Some people never decide to act upon the Word of God or make any changes in their lives. This is called neutral expectation; their expectation never gets out of neutral. “Someday” never comes and they are stuck in the same place year after year.
An example of misguided expectation is when Naaman expected Elisha to wave his hand over him and his leprosy to disappear. Instead, he had to humble himself to dip seven times in the muddy river. Like Naaman, who was offended at the prophet’s instructions, we must make adjustments, swallow our pride and obey the Word of the Lord in order to get a miracle.
Positive expectation is demonstrated by the woman in Mark 5, who suffered for twelve years with an issue of blood. When she heard of Jesus, SHE PUT HER EXPECTATION AND HOPE ONLY IN JESUS. She pressed through the crowd and touched his clothes. She kept saying, “If I may but touch his clothes, I shall be made whole.” Her positive expectation allowed her to lay hold of the healing power of Jesus.
And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, “Who touched my clothes?” But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace and be made whole of thy plague.
Mark 5:27-34
HOW TO RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM GOD
Positive expectation contains four elements this woman demonstrated: First, she said if she could touch Jesus, she would be healed. Next, she acted: she pressed through the crowd and touched Jesus. Then, she received and felt the power of God make her well. Finally, she told it. Jesus told Bro. Hagin that if anyone, anywhere did these four things, he or she could always receive, not only healing, but anything from God.
Have faith in God. (Mark 11:22)
Take hold on God’s faithfulness. (Century)
These powerful words of Jesus in Mark 11:22 are the answer to every problem. They silence complaining and blaming others or circumstances. When you lay hold on God’s faithfulness, He takes hold on you. One day, I was crossing a busy road with my little grandson, Dylan. As we walked together, he was holding my hand tightly, but my grip on his hand was actually much stronger than his grip on mine. God’s grip on you is bigger than your grip on Him.
This hope, this positive expectation, is an anchor for your soul that reaches into the presence behind the veil even in the middle of the worst storm of life (Hebrews 6:19). David said, “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved,” (Psalms 62:5-6). If necessary, make some adjustments in your expectation. When your expectation is on God you will begin to experience God’s presence, help and provision.
GREAT EXPECTATION FOR 2019
2019 is a year of great expectation for MHM and our partners! We believe to see the fulfillment of THE NEW! We decree a year of breakthrough into a new spiritual dimension and abundance for you, our partners. This month we want to offer you two CD sets: The Power of Positive Expectation, Hope: The Anchor for Your Soul, and the book, The Spirit of Faith. Our God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
In Christ,
Mark and Trina