Category: Radical Faith

The Importance of Renewal

(translations in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian)

2 Cor 4:16

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. NIV

2 Cor 4:16

yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day AMP

2 Cor 4:16

our inner man is made new day by day. BBE

2 Cor 4:16

where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. MES

2 Cor 4:16

Our inner being is renewed every single day.  TPT

Life is a gift everyday, living it is a choice.

We have this power everyday if we choose. 

It is such an amazing truth that every day we live here on earth, the Lord Jesus Christ is bringing us more and more into His image. Every day he is renewing us from the old and giving us new. As Christians, we truly need to see the importance of this truth. It is something we can have and enjoy every day. From the second we wake up, His power, and His Spirit are making things new. There is no old in this, just new. As good as yesterday may have been, there is more today in Him. Look at the various ways to understand this term renewed. 

Renewed: Simply–to make new again, which means–Today we have the image of Jesus being made new in us again. We are receiving a daily increase of light and life from God, so that we may grow more like Him. We are being continually fed with fresh waves of His grace.

For Jesus to renew us, there has to be something new each and every day being brought to us to be renewed. It has to be newer than what already exists. Without Him doing this we remain the same. We have no ability to do this on our own. Renewal, although invisible, is a very real process from the Spirit of Jesus changing us into His image. The inner man is being acted upon by an outside power, the supernatural power of God. He causes our image to become new and better or superior than the quality previously. The quality of newness you had yesterday has been made better today. Our inner being is continually being changed into a newer quality of His life which we did not have before, or it would not be new. 

So here are seven aspects which take place everyday Jesus is renewing us. 

1. Renewal is the supernatural power of God, it indicates our inner man is being acted upon by an outside power, the supernatural power of God, It takes His power to mold and shape us into the right image and likeness.
2. Renewal brings us closer, and every day we can experience fresh and anew the overwhelming power of God’s love
3. Renewal always means there is more. His life can become better, we can keep growing, and learning, 
4. Renewal aligns us, Keeps us in the right mind and heart. His renewing process is always centering us on Him and His life.
5. Renewal always brings us into the “Now”, it gives us fresh faith for today. 
6. Renewal protects us by revealing the old and giving us new, lifts us away from the old life which is corrupt, lifts us from the pressures of this world and all its darkness
7. Renewal is how God continually reminds us He is right here with us, that we belong to Him and we can now be with Him everyday.

So let’s believe for and receive from Him with our faith to be made new again, today and every day we are here on this earth. 

Scriptural references: 2Cor.5:17, 4:16-18, Rom.12:2, Ps.51:10, Eph.4:22-24, Titus 3:5-7, Col.3:10-14

La importancia de la renovación

Español

2 Corintios 4:16

16 No desmayemos, pues. Aunque por fuera nos consumimos, por dentro nos renovamos de día en día. NVI

2 Corintios 4:16

pero nuestro interior se renueva [progresivamente] día tras día AMP

2 Cor 4:16

nuestro hombre interior se renueva de día en día. BBE

2 Cor 4:16

donde Dios está haciendo vida nueva, no pasa un día sin que su gracia se despliegue. MES

2 Cor 4:16

Nuestro interior se renueva cada día.  TPT

La vida es un regalo cada día, vivirla es una elección.

Tenemos este poder cada día si escogemos. 

Es una verdad tan asombrosa que cada día que vivimos aquí en la tierra, el Señor Jesucristo nos está trayendo más y más a su imagen. Cada día nos renueva de lo viejo y nos da lo nuevo. Como cristianos, realmente necesitamos ver la importancia de esta verdad. Es algo que podemos tener y disfrutar cada día. Desde el segundo que despertamos, Su poder, y Su Espíritu están haciendo las cosas nuevas. No hay viejo en esto, solo nuevo. Tan bueno como ayer pudo haber sido, hay más hoy en Él. Mira las varias maneras de entender este término renovado. 

Renovado: Simplemente–hacer nuevo otra vez, lo que significa–Hoy tenemos la imagen de Jesús siendo hecho nuevo en nosotros otra vez. Estamos recibiendo un incremento diario de luz y vida de Dios, para que podamos crecer más como El. Estamos siendo continuamente alimentados con olas frescas de Su gracia.

Para que Jesús nos renueve, tiene que haber algo nuevo cada día que se nos traiga para ser renovado. Tiene que ser más nuevo que lo que ya existe. Sin El haciendo esto nosotros permanecemos igual. No somos capaces de hacerlo por nosotros mismos. La renovación, aunque invisible, es un proceso muy real del Espíritu de Jesús cambiándonos a Su imagen. El hombre interior esta siendo actuado por un poder exterior, el poder sobrenatural de Dios. El hace que nuestra imagen se vuelva nueva y mejor o superior a la calidad que tenia antes. La calidad de novedad que tenias ayer se ha hecho mejor hoy. Nuestro ser interior esta continuamente siendo cambiado a una calidad mas nueva de Su vida la cual no teniamos antes, o no seria nueva. 

Así que aquí hay siete aspectos que tienen lugar cada día Jesús nos está renovando. 

Renovación es el poder sobrenatural de Dios, indica que nuestro hombre interior esta siendo actuado por un poder exterior, el poder sobrenatural de Dios, Toma Su poder para moldearnos y formarnos a la imagen y semejanza correcta.

La renovación nos acerca, y cada día podemos experimentar de nuevo el poder arrollador del amor de Dios.

La renovación siempre significa que hay más. Su vida puede mejorar, podemos seguir creciendo y aprendiendo, 

La renovación nos alinea, nos mantiene en la mente y el corazón correctos. Su proceso de renovación siempre nos centra en Él y en Su vida.

La renovación siempre nos trae al “Ahora”, nos da una fe fresca para hoy. 

La renovación nos protege revelando lo viejo y dándonos lo nuevo, nos aleja de la vieja vida que es corrupta, nos aleja de las presiones de este mundo y de toda su oscuridad.

La renovación es la forma en que Dios nos recuerda continuamente que Él está aquí con nosotros, que le pertenecemos y que ahora podemos estar con Él todos los días.

Así que creamos y recibamos de Él con nuestra fe para ser hechos nuevos otra vez, hoy y cada día que estemos aquí en esta tierra. 

Referencias Bíblicas: 2 Corintios 5:17, 4:16-18, Romanos 12:2, Salmo 51:10, Efesios 4:22-24, Tito 3:5-7, Colosenses 3:10-14.

A importância da renovação

Português

2 Cor 4:16

16 Portanto, não desanimemos. Embora exteriormente estejamos nos definhando, interiormente estamos sendo renovados dia a dia. NVI

2 Cor 4:16

contudo, o nosso interior está sendo [progressivamente] renovado dia após dia AMP

2 Cor 4:16

nosso homem interior se renova dia a dia. BBE

2 Cor 4:16

onde Deus está dando nova vida, não passa um dia sem que sua graça se desenvolva. MES

2 Cor 4:16

Nosso ser interior é renovado todos os dias.  TPT

A vida é uma dádiva todos os dias, mas vivê-la é uma escolha.

Temos esse poder todos os dias, se quisermos. 

É uma verdade incrível que, a cada dia que vivemos aqui na Terra, o Senhor Jesus Cristo está nos transformando cada vez mais em Sua imagem. Todos os dias, Ele nos renova do velho e nos dá o novo. Como cristãos, precisamos realmente ver a importância dessa verdade. É algo que podemos ter e desfrutar todos os dias. Desde o segundo em que acordamos, Seu poder e Seu Espírito estão fazendo coisas novas. Não há nada velho nisso, apenas novo. Por melhor que tenha sido o dia de ontem, há mais hoje Nele. Veja as várias maneiras de entender esse termo renovado. 

Renovado: Simplesmente – fazer novo novamente, o que significa – Hoje temos a imagem de Jesus sendo feita nova em nós novamente. Estamos recebendo um aumento diário de luz e vida de Deus, para que possamos nos tornar mais semelhantes a Ele. Estamos sendo continuamente alimentados com novas ondas de Sua graça.

Para que Jesus nos renove, é preciso que haja algo novo a cada dia que nos é trazido para sermos renovados. Tem de ser mais novo do que o que já existe. Sem que Ele faça isso, permanecemos os mesmos. Não temos capacidade de fazer isso por nós mesmos. A renovação, embora invisível, é um processo muito real do Espírito de Jesus que nos transforma à Sua imagem. O homem interior está sendo influenciado por um poder externo, o poder sobrenatural de Deus. Ele faz com que nossa imagem se torne nova e melhor ou superior à qualidade anterior. A qualidade de novidade que você tinha ontem se tornou melhor hoje. Nosso ser interior está sendo continuamente transformado em uma qualidade mais nova de Sua vida, que não tínhamos antes, ou não seria nova. 

Portanto, aqui estão sete aspectos que ocorrem todos os dias em que Jesus está nos renovando. 

A renovação é o poder sobrenatural de Deus, indica que nosso homem interior está sendo influenciado por um poder externo, o poder sobrenatural de Deus.

A renovação nos aproxima, e todos os dias podemos experimentar de novo o poder avassalador do amor de Deus

A renovação sempre significa que há mais. Sua vida pode se tornar melhor, podemos continuar crescendo e aprendendo, 

A renovação nos alinha, nos mantém na mente e no coração certos. Seu processo de renovação está sempre nos centralizando Nele e em Sua vida.

A renovação sempre nos traz para o “Agora”, nos dá uma nova fé para o dia de hoje. 

A renovação nos protege revelando o velho e nos dando o novo, nos livra da velha vida que é corrupta, nos livra das pressões deste mundo e de toda a sua escuridão

A renovação é a maneira pela qual Deus nos lembra continuamente que Ele está bem aqui conosco, que pertencemos a Ele e que agora podemos estar com Ele todos os dias.

Portanto, vamos acreditar e receber Dele com nossa fé para sermos renovados novamente, hoje e todos os dias em que estivermos aqui nesta Terra. 

Referências bíblicas: 2Cor.5:17, 4:16-18, Rom.12:2, Sal.51:10, Ef.4:22-24, Tito 3:5-7, Col.3:10-14

Importanța reînnoirii

română

2 Corinteni 4:16

16 De aceea nu ne pierdem inima. Deși în exterior ne pierdem, în interior ne înnoim zi de zi. NIV

2 Corinteni 4:16

dar interiorul nostru se înnoiește [progresiv] zi de zi AMP

2 Cor 4:16

omul nostru lăuntric este făcut nou zi de zi. BBE

2 Cor 4:16

acolo unde Dumnezeu face viața nouă, nu trece o zi fără ca harul Său să se desfășoare. MES

2 Cor 4:16

Ființa noastră interioară este reînnoită în fiecare zi.  TPT

Viața este un dar în fiecare zi, trăirea ei este o alegere.

Avem această putere în fiecare zi dacă alegem. 

Este un adevăr atât de uimitor că, în fiecare zi pe care o trăim aici pe pământ, Domnul Isus Hristos ne aduce tot mai mult după chipul Său. În fiecare zi, El ne reînnoiește din cele vechi și ne dăruiește altele noi. Ca și creștini, trebuie să vedem cu adevărat importanța acestui adevăr. Este ceva ce putem avea și de care ne putem bucura în fiecare zi. Din clipa în care ne trezim, puterea Lui și Duhul Său fac lucrurile noi. Nu există vechi în acest sens, ci doar nou. Oricât de bun ar fi fost ziua de ieri, astăzi există mai mult în El. Priviți diferitele moduri de a înțelege acest termen reînnoit. 

Înnoit: Pur și simplu… a face din nou nou, ceea ce înseamnă… Astăzi avem din nou imaginea lui Isus fiind făcut nou în noi. Primim o creștere zilnică de lumină și de viață de la Dumnezeu, pentru ca noi să devenim tot mai asemănători cu El. Suntem hrăniți continuu cu valuri proaspete ale harului Său.

Pentru ca Isus să ne reînnoiască, trebuie ca în fiecare zi să ni se aducă ceva nou pentru a fi reînnoiți. Trebuie să fie ceva mai nou decât ceea ce există deja. Fără ca El să facă acest lucru, noi rămânem la fel. Nu avem capacitatea de a face acest lucru pe cont propriu. Reînnoirea, deși invizibilă, este un proces foarte real din partea Duhului lui Isus care ne schimbă după chipul Său. Omul interior este acționat de o putere exterioară, puterea supranaturală a lui Dumnezeu. El face ca imaginea noastră să devină nouă și mai bună sau superioară calității de dinainte. Calitatea de noutate pe care o aveai ieri a devenit mai bună astăzi. Ființa noastră interioară este schimbată continuu într-o calitate mai nouă a vieții Sale, pe care nu o aveam înainte, altfel nu ar fi nouă. 

Iată așadar șapte aspecte care au loc în fiecare zi în care Isus ne înnoiește. 

Reînnoirea este puterea supranaturală a lui Dumnezeu, ea indică faptul că omul nostru interior este acționat de o putere exterioară, puterea supranaturală a lui Dumnezeu, Este nevoie de puterea Lui pentru a ne modela și a ne modela după chipul și asemănarea potrivită.

Reînnoirea ne apropie și în fiecare zi putem experimenta din nou și din nou puterea copleșitoare a dragostei lui Dumnezeu

Reînnoirea înseamnă întotdeauna că există mai mult. Viața Lui poate deveni mai bună, noi putem continua să creștem și să învățăm, 

Reînnoirea ne aliniază, Ne menține în mintea și inima potrivită. Procesul Său de reînnoire ne centrează mereu pe El și pe viața Sa.

Reînnoirea ne aduce întotdeauna în “Acum”, ne dă o credință proaspătă pentru astăzi. 

Reînnoirea ne protejează prin dezvăluirea celor vechi și oferirea celor noi, ne îndepărtează de viața veche care este coruptă, ne ridică de presiunile acestei lumi și de tot întunericul ei

Reînnoirea este modul în care Dumnezeu ne amintește continuu că este aici cu noi, că Îi aparținem și că acum putem fi cu El în fiecare zi.

Așa că haideți să credem pentru și să primim de la El cu credința noastră pentru a fi făcuți noi din nou, astăzi și în fiecare zi în care suntem aici pe acest pământ. 

Referințe din Scriptură: 2Cor.5:17, 4:16-18, Rom.12:2, Ps.51:10, Efes.4:22-24, Tit 3:5-7, Col.3:10-14

Moving On With Life

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?….Is.43:18‭-‬19 NKJV

19 I am going to do something new. It is already happening. Don’t you recognize it? I will clear a way in the desert. I will make rivers on dry land. GW Isa 43:19

From these scriptures God was explaining, through Isaiah, all the things He had done in the past for them. Miraculous and amazing things which they witnessed. However, His point in mentioning the past was not to get them looking at the past but to understand He was the same God today, right now, as he was back when He did those awesome works on their behalf.

 If you have been a Christian for any length of time you could do the same, you can look back at all you know God did on your behalf. You might even use the statement “remember when”. But even like we read in Isaiah, God was trying to get His people, you and I, to see what He is doing now, not back then. As good as yesterday with Jesus was, there is the good He is and will be today because He is the same. 

There is an event in February called Groundhog day. It is a superstition started back as far as 1600  when the groundhog comes out from hibernation and if he sees his shadow it means six more weeks of winter. It has also become a phrase used in situations in which a series of unwelcome, tedious events seem to stay the same as they are repeated over and over, recurring in exactly the same way. 

There was even a movie done many years ago entitled Groundhog Day. It’s about a person who gets caught repeating the same day over and over. He wakes up to the same scene day after day and tries to convince others of what is happening, but no one believes him. So he starts to adopt an “I don’t care anymore” attitude. He thinks since he repeats each day the same, what does it matter? He’s stuck. So he does as he pleases. However he slowly starts getting conscious as to who he really is inside and starts to make himself a better person. Each day he learns new things to improve himself. Now, of course like most movies he is doing it to win over a girl. So each day he sees his wrong motives and eventually does get his motives right.

Well as a pastor for many years I believe there is a Christian version of Groundhog Day. Where many Christians get stuck in the same cycle of being a good Christian, doing the right things over and over again and eventually losing track of where they are in their walk with Jesus. They are doing these Christian things and do not see the person they have become inside. Their version of Christianity becomes rote, tradition, nothing different, nothing new. They don’t really feel the life or passion in what they do, they just do it. Now I am not saying they are bad people, they are still good people, its just they are not experiencing Jesus Christ the way they did when they first met Him. 

Think with me for a bit, if we truly look at Jesus, the author of Life, Resurrected Lord of all, we have to ask ,”how can this be so”? How can life be the same over and over again with the Lord of all creation? Yet if many were truly honest about their routine, they could say  it was the same as always, and could do it blindfolded. They get so used to it they really have no other thoughts. They just do, and that’s it, that’s all there is to it. They remain good Christians, and nothing wrong with that. They go to church, again, nothing wrong with that. But it is almost as if they are doing it robotically or asleep, yet awake. Nothing new, nothing different. 

So here is the question, how new is Jesus today, right now to you? Is He the same ”old” Lord? I mean scripture does state “He is the same yesterday, today and forever”. Or, is He new and alive today just like He was yesterday. The difference is just like the Lord was saying through Isaiah, His newness is springing up right now, can’t you see it? Sadly though, many do not look because they have allowed the same things over and over to speak to them and have gotten comfortable with the routine, and this is life. They experience it again and again and slowly fall into a habit or pattern of Groundhog day. 

Every day, every single day you wake up with Jesus you have the ability for new life to come forth bringing you new things,  that is if you are looking for them. We need to take the time to check our lives and evaluate how fresh and new Jesus is to us today. It could be you are in need of His life flooding your life today. His new life is happening right now.

2 Cor 4:16

16 So we do not give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day. NCV

16 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. MES

So no wonder we don’t give up. For even though our outer person gradually wears out, our inner being is renewed every single day. TPT

Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day. AMPC

Remember the day His salvation came into your life, you knew Him and how alive you were in Him and how real His presence in your life was. He is still that same amazing life giving God today.  Ask yourself how exciting is my life with Jesus? You want to say I’m okay, but make sure this is not from your state of comfortableness, being used to nothing changing, everything the same as yesterday. 

Well I believe there is a life with Jesus inside every Christian wanting and even trying to burst forth with new things, a new spiritual revelation, changing their environment to something full of what He says is abundant life every morning they wake up. We need to realize as Christ centered beings what that really entails. We can live a life that is truly alive with Christ. Every day we can be touching the living Lord of all creation. If it’s new, then it has the ability to produce life.  If it’s not new, then it is what you had yesterday and as good as that may have been it does not produce new life today.  Jesus wants you to experience the new life He has for you today. Today He is still saving you. 

Again, every day we have the ability to reach out and enjoy the fullness of being saved with Jesus. On a daily basis all of His life, joy, strength, and blessings are available. Daily we can experience new growth in our relationship with him, in our faith, and in our revelation from His Words. The  possibilities are unlimited. We just have to agree to not get caught in the grind of life but instead be renewed in the freshness of His life. Every day we are seeking out the amazing treasure of life found only in Him afresh and anew this day. He is the Extraordinary, Exceptional, and Enjoyable God.

“Now” faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality–faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. Heb 11:1 AMP

“Now” faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen. Hebrews 11:1 TPT

“Now” faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 NASB2020

Just like the Word of God, (Heb.4:12) time is also like a two edged sword. One side cautions us about using our time wisely and responsibly, while the other side encourages us to seize the moment. Too often we take such cautions we never seize the moment. 

Of course we need to understand there is only one entrance point to time. This entrance would be now, right now. So here is a statement to muse on, “You only have now” and “You always have now”. Is there anything wrong with being responsible? Absolutely not. We should use our time to be productive. However, we should not let this be our safe zone for not seizing the moment. 

Right now, at this very instant, we can seize the moment to use all of the gifts, blessings and power that Jesus secured for us. When? Right now! Now, will always be our starting point. Right now, all of what Jesus’ death and resurrection has given us is available. All of His presence, power, and promises can be accessed right now.  

It doesn’t matter how old you are or how young you are. It doesn’t matter how long you have been a Christian, whether you are new at walking with God or you’ve been doing it for years because now, right now is always your starting point. So even if you’re unsure of your next steps then take small ones, baby steps, or maybe it’s time to take a big step, even jump toward where you believe God is leading you. 

No matter where you are, as a Christian in life’s journey, taking a step with Jesus is always going to be now, right now, you need to take the step. What is it you are hoping for or desire to see happen in your life? Now is your starting point to exercise your faith. Right now start praying, believing, and speaking what you want to see God do for you. If things need to change then make the decision to do something now to change it. 

Don’t wait but seize the moment right now to start. When can you pray, when can you be blessed, when can you forgive, when can you hear and talk to God, when does God heal, when can a person get saved, when does a person have abundant life, the answer is always “NOW”. 

Remember, “Now” is your only entrance point to time. Do you want something new and exciting? Do you want to break up the status quo? Don’t let the past dictate your time right now, yesterday is gone, and don’t be so caught up with what may or may not happen tomorrow that you do not take fresh steps today. So answer the question of when, with NOW!! Right NOW. NOW is the entry point to all God has for you.

What Do You Expect

Has someone ever said to you “well what did you expect”, or “what did you think was going to happen”? Usually these statements are heard when something negative occured. There are probably countless times throughout your life you have heard these spoken by someone observing what happened either to you or to someone else. You may have even told someone this yourself.  

A decision was made to go forward with something questionable which turned out wrong or bad, and then you say to yourself, “I knew that would happen”, “what did I expect”. Obviously you were expecting something completely different. Truthfully you were questioning moving forward and you were already thinking a negative outcome could happen, but hoping it wouldn’t. You honestly had a lower expectation of results. 

Even now thinking back on raising my children I wonder how many times I said, “What did you expect”?. It’s funny to think of how many things if done a certain way, the right way, you know what to expect. Then there are those times you take an easier way, a short cut, and it doesn’t work, and inwardly you didn’t expect it to but you were hoping. 

The actual definition of the word “expect” means you are considering the outcome  with certainty behind it. You may even be anticipating or looking forward to the occurrences that are about to happen because you expect what will happen. 

Now let me ask this, what do you expect from God? Do you expect Him to be faithful ? Do you expect Him to do what He says or are you just inwardly hoping?  Yet, how many times throughout the Bible and through our lives have we seen God do exactly what He said He would? As a Pastor when people have asked for prayer, we pray and it happens according to our prayers and people seem surprised. The reason for this is they honestly were not expecting any result from the prayer offered.

I mean think with me here, “What Do We Expect”?. Did we get what we expected? You are wanting God to do various things and you were truly hoping, but it didn’t happen, you were sort of expecting it wouldn’t. You had wrong expectations of the Lord. You were not expecting the Lord to do what He said He would. Look at the following story from scripture.

Matt 8:5-13

5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.” 7 Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith..” …….13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour. NIV

I am sure you have heard sermons on this story. It reveals the power of His Word, what the centurion believed about Jesus. However, what I want to point out here is where the centurion put his expectations. He expected when Jesus spoke the word of healing it would work. Jesus even states “it will be done just as you believed it would”. Jesus agreed with what the centurion was expecting. The soldier didn’t demand Jesus heal his servant but instead revealed what he expected would happen and how it would happen, and it did.

We just went through the year 2020 where not a whole lot happened on the entire earth. It was called a pandemic, where no one was allowed to do anything. Even the church was declared non essential, only essential commerce was allowed to stay open.  (Just a side note, amazing how  liquor stores were seen as essential) So much happened or really didn’t happen and pretty much everyone knew what to expect. This chipped away at our expectations, getting us to lower them.  

Then things slowly began to lift, you ventured out to the store wearing your mask and making sure you didn’t come too close to anyone and not touching anything including doors unless absolutely necessary. Whenever you made your way out, you took your hand sanitizer and made sure to kill any germ that came came near you. As more and more restrictions were lifted, enabling us to do more and engage in more things outside of being locked in our homes, we learned to expect a little more. Then things opened up,  no more face masks! We are even spending time in gatherings, and dare I say shaking hands instead of touching elbows or fist bumps and yes even hugging people!

In painting this picture I am trying to get you to see how our expectations work. So I want to come back to the question, what are you expecting from God? Did your expectations go down or up? What do you think He will do? 

Here is an amazing fact, God did not change one bit through 2020. We need to be willing to evaluate our expectations of Him and make sure our expectations were not lowered. We need to expect the same and more every year no matter what happens. In fact let’s look at where we can raise our expectations of Him for this year. 

What does scripture teach us? Read the following scripture and the various words used in the different translations as they describe how we should view Him.

Eph 3:20

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us NIV

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, NKJV

20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] —AMP

20 Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of-infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. TLB

20 Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination!^[a] He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. TPT

Now let’s take a look at God. 

We know God expects us to believe Him and I mean believe what He says. As I stated before we know He is faithful. We know He is always honest and only speaks the absolute truth. He is always willing to forgive. He is always loving you, and brings you life and life abundantly. We know He is always bringing light so that we may see the truth. We know He is able to save anyone, anywhere, anytime. He is the one who strengthens us and He gives us rest. He stands with us, beside us, protects our back, and lives inside of us. We know He causes our growth. He is our vindicator. He is our righteousness. He gives the increase. We know He wants to be with us always, and He is a good, good  Father to us. He is always for us, never ever against us.

This list could go on and on and I do not know if you could come to an actual end with the list. We know the truth about who He is. So here is the question again, What Do You Expect From Him? He who did not spare His own Son but joyfully, willingly gave Him up for us so that we can expect Him to be everything He said He would be for us. 

Rom 8:32

³² For God has proved his love by giving us his greatest treasure, the gift of his Son. And since God freely offered him up as the sacrifice for us all,^[a] he certainly won’t withhold from us anything else he has to give.

32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? NLT

32 He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things? AMP

32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? NKJV

32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? NIV

What Do You Expect From Him!!!

Matt 7:9-12

9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! NIV

how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him! AMP

won’t your Father in heaven even more certainly give good gifts to those who ask him for them? TLB

how much more ready is your heavenly Father to give wonderful gifts^[b] to those who ask him?” TPT

What Do You Expect From Him!!!

Galatians 6:7‭-‬10

Make no mistake about it, God will never be mocked! For what you plant will always be the very thing you harvest. The harvest you reap reveals the seed that was planted. If you plant the corrupt seeds of self-life into this natural realm, you can expect to experience a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life you will reap the beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit. And don’t allow yourselves to be weary or disheartened in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming! Take advantage of every opportunity to be a blessing to others, especially to our brothers and sisters in the family of faith! TPT

Let’s look at our expectations and properly evaluate them and if they need raising then let’s raise them. It doesn’t matter where you are with the Lord right now,  I believe there is always room to raise your expectations of what Jesus Christ can and will do for you today, right now. Do you expect to reap the right fruit if you sow the right seeds of a Spiritual life? Let us go out and raise our expectations and plant the seeds of His Spirit expecting to see the spiritual fruit He promises.