EAGER EXPECTATION
Recently I sensed Holy Spirit whisper… “eager expectation”. As I began to ponder these words, I was encouraged to find so many places in Scripture referring to eager expectation.
We have great (eager) expectation for breakthrough in every area of the ministry here at CHR and as I began to delve into the Word, I was reminded of just how important it is to have eager expectation. It’s an active posture and not one of just ‘hoping’ things will change.
There are several words used in various translations for ‘expectation’ however it isn’t my goal to do a thorough study of each of these. However, for our purpose here to highlight just a few key points when it comes to ‘eager expectation’.
The first account of this eager expectation in the gospels is found in Luke 3:15. The scene if you will, opens early in this chapter with John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus. He is preaching confession of sins & repentance. Verse 15 says “the people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.”
It is significant I believe the people were waiting expectantly. They weren’t passive but actively and almost with bated breath looking for the coming of the long-prophesied Messiah.
John too had been waiting expectantly for the Messiah. Mark’s account tells us “the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptised in the Jordan river” (Mark 1:5). God had told him “the man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit” (See John 1:33). We see from this John was (eagerly) expecting to see the Holy Spirit rest on someone he would soon baptise. John saw Jesus coming towards him, amongst many others no doubt and declares those famous words “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
The Bible says in Rom 8:24-25 (NIV) “…who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have we wait for it patiently.” However, the original language actually means to ‘assiduously’ wait for it i.e., to wait with great care and perseverance or expect eagerly.
We are therefore to hope with eager expectation!
When I was a young child my mother had declared we would NEVER get a colour TV, because “we can’t afford it” (showing my age now). Somehow, she must have weakened and one was purchased. It was a 20” Panasonic (how’s that for high tech?) and was to be delivered on a particular Friday afternoon. I clearly remember my brother and I watching out the lounge room window each and every car go past from the time we arrived home from school well into the evening just hoping the next car or delivery van would turn into our driveway. The ‘assiduous waiting’ with eager expectation was growing dim as 5, 6, 7 and 8pm passed with both of us glued to the window. Just when it appeared our waiting was in vain and we were being directed to our bedrooms in a state of abject disappointment, around 9pm there was a knock on the door and our new TV had arrived! I can still vividly recall the ‘eager expectation’ with which we waited. It was tangible and filled with great expectation.
I love what Psa 119:131 says. “I pant with expectation longing for your commands”. ‘Pant’ here literally means to earnestly desire – O that we would all earnestly desire the Lord’s commands with eager expectation!
Finally, we could look at so many examples from Scripture of those with ‘eager expectation’. We could begin with Abraham who was fully persuaded God was able to do what He had promised. However, as I bring this article to a close, 3 people come to mind.
The first is the woman with the issue of blood we read of in Matt 9. Here was a woman who simply shouldn’t have been in a public place. One who had spent all she had for twelve long, painful and embarrassing years and her condition only deteriorated. I believe it was with eager expectation she said to herself “if only I touch His cloak I will be healed” (Matt 9:21) the day she ‘stole her miracle’ from Jesus. As He felt (healing) power go out from Him, He declared to her “your faith has healed you” (Matt 9:22).
He didn’t pray for her, beg His Father to heal her, or lay hands on her (she laid her hands on Him). There’s a clear link shown here between eager expectation, great faith and healing.
The second is the Syrophoenician woman whose daughter was demonised (See Matt 15:22-28). She persisted and persisted with Jesus despite Him initially ignoring her, dismissing her, and then in our eyes insulting her. Clearly recognising He was The Healer who could bring freedom to her daughter who wasn’t even present in her encounter with the Saviour. Once again His response to her eager expectation was“Woman you have great faith! Your request is granted” (Matt 15:28).
The final one is the leper who approached Jesus (See Matt 8:1-4). This scene is so beautifully portrayed in the 6th Episode of The Chosen. Here’s a man deemed unclean by society. An outcast unable to work, support himself (or his family) and totally reliant on begging and perhaps scavenging for his survival. I believe he had eager expectation to even approach Jesus and simply but profoundly says to Him, “Lord if you are willing you can make me clean.” What else but eager expectation would have caused this man to risk harm to approach the Master with such a faith filled, and yet risky statement?
Jesus reply was so full of love and compassion. “I am willing be clean!” ‘Willing’ here literally means “I would be delighted to or it would give me great pleasure”. The leper was immediately cured and could therefore get on with his life. What a transformation coming from eager expectation!
“Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isa 40:31
“Wait” here means to look eagerly for, to lie in wait for in order to ‘ambush’. Waiting on the Lord is not sitting back passively waiting for Him to do something but to press in Him with eager expectation in order to have our strength renewed and soar like an eagle.
May I encourage you to come to the Lord with eager expectation whether you need healing, breakthrough, direction, wisdom or provision. He has paid in full for our healing, salvation and deliverance and died to give us an abundant life bringing glory to His Name.